Newcastle says thank you to host families

The authority organised a special St Nicholas Day celebration at Newcastle Civic Centre on Monday December 19 as a way of saying thank you to all those who have taken the people of Ukraine to their hearts in 2022.

Ukrainian families joined their hosts at the party which featured Ukrainian music, food, arts and crafts. Some children who attended received a hand knitted teddy bear as a keepsake of the special event held in the banqueting hall.

It was a way of supporting Ukrainian families at Christmas time when their minds are focused on the plight of their homeland which was invaded by Russian forces in February and recently came under a massive missile attack knocking out power and water supplies.

St Nicholas is the Ukrainian equivalent to Santa Claus, and his day in Ukraine normally sees the giving of presents to children and the beginning of the winter holiday season. The night is called Magic Night and has become a universal children’s festival.

Newcastle’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Veronica Dunn, who welcomed the host families and guests to the party, said: “It’s been an unimaginably hard year for the people of Ukraine.

“The war has caused so many casualties and displaced so many from their homes. We thought it was right to celebrate the human resilience which comes from these evil acts - the courage of the mums and their children having to leave their fathers and sons behind, and the compassion of the people of Newcastle who have opened their arms in their hour of darkness.

“Christmas is especially a time for children, and we hope all children will be able to enjoy Christmas. We wish our Ukrainian guests, peace and joy at Christmas and pray that the war will end soon.”

Cabinet member for a Vibrant City, Cllr Lesley Storey, who has responsibility for communities, said: “Newcastle is a City of Sanctuary with a proud track record of helping people persecuted or fleeing war.

“It is no surprise that so many of our residents stepped forward and opened their homes to these mothers and their children, but something we should never forget or take for granted.

“The council organised this event to say thank you to all those host families and let the people of Ukraine know we continue to offer them our love, support and solidarity.”

The council has also organised fortnightly drop-in sessions for Ukrainian refugee families and their hosts. Arts and crafts sessions have also been laid on as a way of bringing people together and offering therapy from the stress and worry of leaving loved ones behind.

To show solidarity with Ukraine, the council also organised a special event in August to mark Ukrainian Independence Day and the raised the Ukrainian flag above the Civic Centre to the sound of a choir.