St Andrews - Ways to help with Ukrainian families
There are now five families of Ukrainians being hosted through members of St Andrews church and our Mission committee has been helping to support these host families with funds and creating support groups. We came up with some ideas of ways you (and/or your family) can also really help, besides general giving via the church or the actual hosting in your own home…
Getting around
· Offer car rides when needed
· Provide bus passes for young people to encourage independence
· Offer use of a bike to borrow / use
Having fun
· Take the children swimming with your family
· Offer to go on a short bike ride with a teen/tween
· Invite families to join you for a picnic
· Take families out during half term / summer holidays
- see List of Things to Do in May Half Term for some ideas about this coming week
· Share holiday ideas/days out/free local activity days for families/teens
· Sponsor a 16-18 yo GL1 gym membership (£20 per month)
· Sponsor a teen to go on a sports/Christian camp this summer?!
· Invite the children to come along to sports activities your children are involved in, especially over the summer
Making friends
· Invite a Ukrainian family for lunch after church on Sunday or one evening in the week
· Learn some Ukrainian with Duolingo and try it out when you see them at church
· Say hello and ask them about themselves - listen to broken English patiently and be friendly!
Supporting host families
· Invite the host family only for a meal to give them some respite, which will also give the Ukrainian family some space in the host's home without them there too
· Pray for, and offer to pray with the host families
· Consider whether your connect group wants to actively connect with one of the families
Getting used to life in the UK
· Accompany new families to English conversation classes
· Volunteer at English conversation classes (St Cats church – 9-11am Weds, Roots – 1-3pmThurs)
· Take a mum out for driving practice (once they get their provisional licenses!)
· Talk to us if you have ideas about housing options and work options
· Offer help writing a CV and/or filling in forms
That's all for now but do add to the list!
If you feel you want to contribute in any of the ways listed (or any other ways you think might work) then please be in touch with us and we can try to match up some needs with offers of help.
Denise Wang 0740 005 6206
Rhiannon Gibson 0750 308 5901
Laine Lewis 0750 882 1867
If you want to contact families directly, they are based in Gloucester, Churchdown, Ripple and Churcham.
Stephen & Denise Wang – kids aged 16, 12 & 7 - 0740 005 6206
Yana Rattigan – child aged 16 - 0755 735 9266
Julie and Peter Ingram – kids aged 15, 9 & 2 - 0779 144 8840
Kathy & Dave O’Brien – child aged 12 - 0779 22816766
Helen & Jeremy Naeve – no kids - 0795 249 9322
Tom & Jac McElkerney – child aged 7 - 0758 357 8614
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR Fill in the form below and email rhiannongibson@yahoo.com:
Name:
Address:
Availability:
The kinds of things I could offer:
Half term / Summer offers:
Phone number:
Things to do with kids in May Half Term
When? What? Where? Cost?
May
Sun 29th
10.30-12.00 Church! St Andrew’s Free
Cheltenham Children’s Festival Cheltenham Town Hall Free
- Various activities based around
‘Our Future’
Mon 30th
11.00-3.00 Nature Quest Robinswood Hill Free
- Craft and nature based activities
12.30-3.30 Glos Cathedral Family Activities Gloucester Cathedral Free
Tues 31st
2.00-5.00 Jubilee Garden Fun Day Churchdown Library Free
- Fun activities
12.30-3.30 Glos Cathedral Family Activities Gloucester Cathedral Free
June
Weds 1st
12.30-3.30 Glos Cathedral Family Activities Gloucester Cathedral Free
2.00 - 3.30 Sportily Innsworth Primary Free
- Sports, coffee & cake, all ages
Thurs 2nd
Late afternoon Jubilee Beacon Event Churchdown Park Free
5.00-9.45 - Activities, music & food, lighting beacon
Fri 3rd
12.00-4.00 Churchdown Community Assoc Parton Rd, Churchdown Free
- Bouncy Castle, fun things to do
13.00 on Tall Ships Festival Gloucester Docks Free
Sat 4th
13.00 on Tall Ships Festival Gloucester Docks Free
Sun 5th
10.30-12.00 Church! St Andrew’s Free
13.00 on Tall Ships Festival Gloucester Docks Free
Museums – any day
Waterways Museum – Gloucester Docks – entry fee charged
Gloucester Museum – Brunswick Rd – free
Nature in Art - Wallsworth Hall, Gloucester GL2 9PA – entry fee charged