Some recent awards from generous donors will help us maintain our work for 2024. Thanks to Hall and Woodhouse Community Chest and St James Place Charitable Foundation.

A group of experienced and new hosts met, on Saturday 20th January, with Shaftesbury Refugee Group Trustees to look back over the last 20 months and to the future support that hosts will need.

Thanks to Rachel Sargent , local artist, and her friends for hosting a lino cutting workshop on December 11th. A lovely idea that we hope to repeat in the New Year.

A fabulous day in Wimborne and Kingston Lacy spent with friends and families from Ukraine.

We will remember the warmth of our day together on December 9th.

Якщо ви відкладаєте гроші або надсилаєте їх за кордон, щоб допомогти своїй родині, будь ласка, ознайомтеся з цією інформацією про вплив на ваші виплати універсального кредиту та ваше право.

If you are saving money or sending it abroad to help your family, please be aware of this information about the impact on your Universal Credit payments and your eligibility.

Open every Thursday from 10.00am to 12 noon, Global Cafe Shaftesbury is a place for you to meet over free refreshments and enjoy the company and support of people.

A week on from the visit of Kyiv City Ballet, we have now fully understood the contributions so many people made to make our visitors welcome.

North Dorset, we thank you.

Ці книжки були спеціально виготовлені Pineapple Lane books для дітей, які приїхали до Великобританії з України.

Ці книжки були виготовлені Pineapple Lane books спеціально для дітей, які приїхали до Великої Британії з України.

Книги надаються безкоштовно, а ми в Shaftesbury Refugee Group маємо їх у зручних сумках із гарним значком у подарунок.

The week of events, centred on the visit of Kyiv City Ballet, came to an end at The Exchange, Sturminster with a dazzling display of dance and a celebration of Ukrainian culture.

On Sunday 8th October The Mayor of Shaftesbury cordially invited Ukrainian guests, hosts and partners of Shaftesbury Refugee Group to have coffee and cake with her in the Town Hall.

Kyiv City Ballet shared some of their years of experience in three dance classes at TLW Dance Studio giving experienced dancers and novices alike, guidance that inspired.

Life on the road for Kyiv City Ballet is an infinite tour, continuous travel without the chance to return home.

It takes great grit, resilience and ingenuity and the story can be told with great humour too.

Whilst in North Dorset Kyiv City Ballet have visited 5 school sites over two days and met Ukrainian children from 8 schools.

The very strong connection between the local dancers and these ballet stars was evident and even more so the identity that Ukrainian children had with their compatriots.

We learnt steps, saw glimpses of the superhuman qualities the dancers have built through practice and good teaching and saw children open up and grow in confidence in front of their peers.

What is the real impact of being displaced by a conflict that you did not choose? For one young man it was having one of the things he loved taken away from him until Carsten took him to Todber Lakes

On two evenings this week we have enjoyed the scintillating company of Ivan Kozlov and Katya Kozlova. They spoke of their time as a company since the escalation of the war in Ukraine and we openly discussed the impact the war has had on ballet, culture and the perceptions of historic artists like Tchaikovsky.

On Monday evening Kyiv City Ballet were welcomed by the Ukrainian community in North Dorset and by the representatives of the church and our civic leaders. It was an evening of joy and celebration that brought the community together around the solemn invitation to take bread and salt.

We look forward to the arrival of Kyiv City Ballet after their performances at Sadlers Wells, Peacock Theatre.

Kristina Kadashevych, principal dancer Kyiv City Ballet will be with us for the week and performing on October 8th.

Image by Julia Nash with the permission of Kyiv City Ballet

From helping three Syrian families settle in North Dorset to contributing to the Homes for Ukraine scheme our small charity had to change to a Foundation CIO which we became on September 18th 2023.

День Незалежності України відзначали українці в усьому світі, і Північний Дорсет не став винятком.

Independence Day of Ukraine was celebrated by Ukrainians world wide and North Dorset was no exception.

‘Kabab Ji (Syrian Cuisine) ’ is a new restaurant concept for our old friends, Gillingham Syrian Cuisine.

With a fresh take on our favourite dishes; kababs and shawarmas, ‘Kabab Ji ‘ has its opening night from 5pm Friday 2nd June. Fridays and Saturdays from then on.

‘Kababs like you’ve never tasted before’

St Mary’s Church, Vicarage School Room, Gillingham SP8 4AJ

We wish Imad and Bayan very best wishes for their new restaurant.