Ukrainian school opens to preserve heritage

Members of a newly opened Ukrainian school have said the launch has been successful in helping their children maintain ties to their culture.

The Saturday school located at St Luke's Community Centre in Duston, Northampton, opened in the Autumn last year after the premises were offered by the parish council.

The school was established by Ukrainian parents who arrived in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and has now grown to 40 children with four staff members.

Ruslana Babee, one of the teachers who came to the county 18 months ago, said: "[The opening] was a great day. We waited a long time and now it's a wonderful environment where children can find friends and speak their mother tongue."

Last year, Ms Babee and fellow Ukrainian Natalia Sabolik appealed to find a venue to host the weekend school after securing funding from The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain.

The mother-of-three, who lives in Northampton, told the BBC she arrived with her family under the Homes for Ukraine scheme last year.

"It is important that we save our national identity," Ms Babee added.

Yullia Kovalets, another organiser, came to Moulton with her husband as part of the same scheme and now works at the school most Saturdays.

She said: "It's not maths or science [that is taught at the school,] it's everything about Ukrainian heritage, culture, and traditions.

"Some of our children only speak English. That's not sad, but it's something we should think about. It's very important to us, that our children don't forget their own language and this is a place where they can find friends and speak mother tongue.

"To work with parents, and children from different parts of Ukraine is amazing."

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