In Anna’s own words

"My name is Anna, and my daughter’s name is Zlata. We lived in Bucha, Kyiv region. We had to leave Ukraine twice. The first time was during the evacuation to Germany, but we returned home after our town was de-occupied.

There was a lot of information about different immigration routes, but we chose Homes for Ukraine when we learned it was an official platform with no risks involved. After returning to Ukraine in the summer of 2022, we started looking for sponsors. I’m grateful to USPUK for helping us through the process, arranging online meetings with potential sponsors, assisting with translations, and guiding us through the visa application.

The reason for leaving Ukraine was simple: I wanted to protect my daughter. As a mother, my child's safety is my top priority, and that’s what I thought about then and will always think about. Once our visas were approved, we travelled to Kraków and then flew to Leeds, where our sponsor, Damian, welcomed us and brought us to Scarborough.

By profession, I’m an economist. It’s been nearly a year since we arrived, and I’ve gradually settled into life here. Initially, we focused on organising documents, registering with a doctor, applying for school, obtaining our Biometric Residence Permits, and opening a bank account. Now, I’m working, and Zlata is attending school and even joined a theatre club.

I believe it's crucial to continue finding new sponsors for Ukrainians because many still need help. To those considering hosting, I would say: please understand that we come from a different country, with a different mentality. We react differently to certain situations, and some of us find it hard to adapt due to language barriers, age, or just the thought of living with strangers. If something doesn’t seem right, it’s not because Ukrainians are ‘bad’; we just do things differently and need time to adjust.

As for our future hopes and plans, there is only one: for the war to end. We haven’t made any long-term plans since the war started. For now, we work, study, and build new friendships.”

Your chance to make a difference

Anna and Zlata’s journey is a testament to the strength of displaced families. By becoming a host, you can help other families find safety and rebuild their lives.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and the dedication of USPUK's Ukrainian Sponsorship Project team, we have been able to offer Ukrainians like Anna and Zlata a chance to find safety and rebuild their lives in the UK.

If you would like to get involved or if you would like more information about our Ukrainian Sponsorship Project, you can find out more on our website in the "Become a Host" section.