Ukrainian Friendship Meetings

The Club hosts and facilitates a fortnightly meeting for the Ukrainians living in the St Ives Area.

The Mayor and the Ukrainians!


The Club  hosts fortnightly Friendship Evenings for our local Ukrainian Refugees.  They are held in the St. Ives Corn Exchange Coffee Shop - providing the perfect occasion for our Ukrainian guests to meet up and to chat in their own language, over a cup of coffee and a snack.  HDC provide an interpreter, and our own volunteer English Language teachers help out with the language as well.  There are about 30 families living in the St Ives area.

Clothes and household items are available, as well as electrical goods and  laptops, from the donations we receive from club members, friends and other residents who want to help.  The people of St Ives are very generous! 

And wonderful evenings they are proving to be, as contacts are exchanged, concerns eased and friendships made.  

The Mayor, Councillor Philip Pope, came along to the first meeting to welcome the guests and assure them of the town's support and friendship.

Meeting up and making friends is much needed for the thousands of displaced Ukrainian guests here in the UK, most of whom are young mothers, separated from their husbands, friends and family. Their normal social contacts may well be still in Ukraine, living in a war-torn land in unimaginable conditions. Their husbands may even be fighting on the front line. Split between host families all over the area, and dependent on their hosts for transport, they had no idea where the other Ukrainians lived and no way to meet up with them.  


Companionship with others who speak the same language and understand their plight is an area of support that many Local Authorities are not currently providing, relying on Voluntary Organisations, such as Rotary, to organise - and one which St. Ives Rotary Club is proud to support. 

Jon SwainContact Jon Swain about this page:

(ALL fields required)

(If you are a Rotarian, please name your club.)

Related pages...

Friends of Rotary

more We would welcome the opportunity to share our fellowship and community service with like-minded people who for the time being are unable to offer the time and commitment required of members.

Realising dreams of becoming an active college student

A new wheelchair enabling a young person to realise her dreams of becoming an active college student

more Many thanks to the Rotary Club’s people for their enthusiasm and undying support for everyone who needs help

2023 Volunteer of the Year Award

Rotary Club of St. Ives Presented with Volunteer of the Year Award - May 2023

more The Rotary Club of St Ives is honoured to be able to support the local community and proud to be recognised by Mayor Philip Pope

Presentation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association

In Memory of Steve Coleman

more Steve Coleman, a stalwart member of the Club, died from Motor Neurone Disease in 2022. The Club has raised funds in his memory.

Pre-Club Meeting Drinks!

Come and join the Rotary Club of St. Ives

more Perhaps you are looking for a new interest and want to have a positive effect on the community both locally and globally.........

Gathering the Shoeboxes for shipping to Moldova

Shoeboxes to Moldova

more Every November the Club takes part in the "Shoeboxes to Moldova" Christmas Appeal. Moldova is the poorest country in Europe and many people live in poverty. The shoeboxes are filled with "goodies" for the Moldovans of all ages.

Fen Drayton Primary - Life Education Bus

The Life Education Bus

more The Club paid for a second day of the Life Education Bus at Fen Drayton Primary School. President Sally presented the Head Teacher, Mrs McQueen, with the cheque.

back to page above this...

The Mayor and the Ukrainians!

About (Who We Are)

back Rotary Club of St Ives, Cambridgeshire. Est. 1953