Dear visitors, Thank you for stopping by on the website of the Ukrainian Welcome Centre. We welcome you warmly, whether you have just recently arrived in the United Kingdom or have been here for some time already, and especially those of you who are wishing to show your support for Ukraine and her people. Our aim here is to help Ukrainian displaced persons to not only stay safe but also to achieve success and prosperity whilst living in the United Kingdom. We want them to cherish their native culture, language, and preserve their emotional connection with Ukraine despite being far from home.

The Centre is headquartered in the magnificent building of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Mayfair, at the heart of Greater London. It is manned by a cohesive team of hardworking permanent staff and volunteers, of whom I am very proud. The Centre was first conceived of in early March 2022, shortly after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and was co-founded by the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain. The centre first opened its doors on the 5th of May 2022. Since then, we have been able to provide Ukrainian newcomers with significant support in overcoming the inevitable difficulties of relocation. We have organised regular consultations and technical support on a broad range of matters, including but not limited to migration status, housing and social security, employment, school enrolment, and NHS registration. To a great extent, this has been made possible by direct cooperation of representatives of the UK Government and local councils as well as a number of charities, private companies and professional associations. We are deeply grateful to all of them.

To promote our guests’ psychological rehabilitation, professional development and personal enrichment, the Centre runs free-of-charge English language courses for various levels of learning as well as arts and crafts clubs and other social events. The Centre has united a tightly knit community of Ukrainians, where we welcome and embrace newcomers, and the Centre’s staff, volunteers and regular visitors take pride in their actions and achievements. So, please get in touch and do not hesitate to visit! We welcome you to our community and will be pleased to offer our help and services to resolve your urgent matters. For us, this is more than a centre — it is a place of hope, resilience, and dignity. Together, we honour the strength of the Ukrainian people and build bridges to a brighter future. Thank you,

• Andry Marchenko, Director of the Ukrainian Welcome Centre.

The Ukrainian Welcome Centre is a non-profit organisation dedicated to aiding and supporting displaced persons from Ukraine. The Centre is a single point of contact for all the essential information for arrival, settling, and long-term living in the United Kingdom. The Ukrainian Welcome Centre is a partnership initiative between the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain.

The Ukrainian Welcome Centre offers information for Ukrainians, their sponsors, and supporting organisations on how to arrive, set up and thrive in the United Kingdom. We offer a physical location to get advice and support, to connect and network, as well as an online resource with information on organisations supporting Ukrainians in the UK. All information on this website is provided free-of-charge as part of our efforts to help displaced Ukrainians. You should acknowledge that it would be unreasonable to hold the Ukrainian Welcome Centre liable in respect of this website and the information on this website. Whilst we endeavour to ensure that the information on this website is correct, we do not warrant its completeness or accuracy; nor do we commit to ensuring that the website remains available at all times or that the material on the website is always kept up-to-date.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has displaced millions of people. The United Kingdom stands together with Ukraine and welcomes displaced Ukrainians to the UK. Our mission is to provide essential resources, guidance, and opportunities to help individuals and families rebuild their lives with dignity and confidence. Through collaboration, cultural preservation and meaningful community engagement, we strive to uplift and empower those we serve, ensuring they feel a true sense of belonging.

Guided by the values of compassion, solidarity and the unwavering spirit of the Ukrainian people, we offer a wide range of programmes and services designed to provide practical assistance, foster connections, and celebrate Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage. More than just a support centre, we are a home away from home — a place where everyone is welcomed with warmth, understanding, and encouragement. Whether one needs guidance, community, or simply a safe and friendly space, the Ukrainian Welcome Centre is here and ready to help. Together, we build resilience, preserve our heritage, and create a brighter future.

Our objectives are as follows: 1. Provide a safe and welcoming space where displaced Ukrainians can access the information and support that they need to rebuild their lives with dignity; 2. Sustainably provide and/or offer reliable signposting to key services to Ukrainians in the UK and their host households; 3. Create partnerships with charities and other organisations to provide services that add value for displaced Ukrainians; 4. Ensure that displaced Ukrainians continue to be connected to Ukrainian culture and heritage; 5. Foster a culture of meaningful volunteering amongst all sectors of the Ukrainian diaspora and beyond; 6. Ensure that the Ukrainian Welcome Centre complies with the charitable objectives of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy and all statutory requirements.

Our Projects and Support Efforts: - Assistance with transition to the Ukrainian Extension Permission - English language classes (free of charge) - English conversation clubs - Accessing benefits - Healthcare access support - Outreach consultations with representatives of London Councils (Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea) - Westminster Citizens Advice support - Art clubs - Clay sculpting club - Craft clubs - Ukrainian Gatherings: historical, cultural, political and literary discussions - Line dancing - Consultations on education - CV writing and job interview consultations - Career transition 1-2-1 coaching - Breathing and energy practices - Legal advice and immigration consultations with cooperating law firms - Warm, safe space. …and a number of other services, activities and events.

The Ukrainian Welcome Centre operates out of the premises belonging to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile. The building was designed by renowned architect Alfred Waterhouse and erected in 1890; it was sold to the Ukrainian Catholic community in 1967. Ever since, it has stood as a beacon of Ukrainian life and culture situated right in the centre of London, just off Oxford Street.

After Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched on the 24th of February 2022, the necessity of an organisation such as the Ukrainian Welcome Centre became immediately apparent. Tens of thousands of displaced Ukrainians have since made their way to the United Kingdom, desperately needing help, advice, and comfort. The UK Government and British people welcomed Ukrainians with open arms. However, it was also clear that the Ukrainian diaspora in the UK would have to play a leading role in supporting their fellow Ukrainians. The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family in London and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain joined forces to set up the Ukrainian Welcome Centre in the first months of the war. Ever since its founding, the Centre has played a crucial role in supporting Ukrainian displaced persons in London and the wider UK. There are now over 200,000 displaced Ukrainians residing within the United Kingdom, and we at the Ukrainian Welcome Centre are playing our part in supporting these vulnerable people. As an understanding, Ukrainian-led charity, we have been able to provide support and comfort in a way that other places cannot. We offer more than mere advice and help: we are also a community setting where Ukrainians can be themselves around people they can relate to.

Work began on setting up the Ukrainian Welcome Centre from early in March of 2022, with in-kind donations being provided by private entities to equip the Centre. The onboarding of Director Andriy Marchenko, initially as the Project Manager, allowed for the start of office work and training. The Centre first opened its doors to the public on the 5th of May 2022, providing help and services to displaced Ukrainians in London. Ever since, the Centre has been helping Ukrainians arriving in the UK in overcoming the inevitable difficulties of displacement and resettlement. On the 30th of November 2022, His Majesty King Charles III officially declared the Centre open, with Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska attending the ceremony. The Centre runs on grants and donations contributed mostly by private funds. Today, it comprises a small team of office staff supported by up to forty volunteers with various backgrounds and talents. We maintain strong links to our parent organisations – the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy and AUGB – and operate under the Eparchy’s Registered Charity No. 240088. Taking pride in being the focal point of a strong and vibrant community, the Centre seeks to continue providing help for as long as it is needed.

• Andry Marchenko - Director.

• Olha Kraskovska - Operational Manager.

• Vera Lysenczuk - Quality Manager.

• Ruslana Bakun - Volunteer and Office Coordinator.

• Stefan Dezyk - Intern.

• Language volunteers:

Christine Maksymovych – English (Elementary/Beginner), Stephan Maksymovych – English (Elementary/Beginner & Art), Richard Collins – English (Pre-Intermediate), Ros McHugh – English (Pre-Intermediate), Paul Dyer – English (Upper-Intermediate), Aidan Jaskowiak – English (A2 & B1), Natalia Koboleva – Online + Class (English B2), Patrick Browning – Conversation Club, Tetiana Browning – Conversation Club, Satya Ojilly – Conversation Club, Patrick Alexander – Conversation Club, Solomiya Vyazovchenko – Conversation/Drop-in/Bilingual, Oksana Wenger – Conversation Club, Mark Lubienski – Conversation Club.

• Recreational volunteers:

Lourdes Taunton-Collins – Art, Tom Collins – Art, Olha Paskevich – Art, Tetiana Lutsyk – Crafts, Tetiana Yushchenko – Knitting Club, Olga Terentieva – Breathing & Energy Practices.

• Drop-in volunteers:

Igor Zadovyrnyi – Ukrainian Gatherings, Andrii Saliuk – Drop-in (Bilingual), Alexandra Isman – Drop-in (Bilingual), Lessia Djakowska – Drop-in (Bilingual), Iryna Terlecky – Drop-in (Bilingual), Iryna Dydyk – Drop-in (Bilingual), Inna Semenchenko – Drop-in (Bilingual & Craft), Abdiaziz Mao – Drop-in, Anna Yatsenko – Mental Support (Bilingual).

• Reception volunteers:

Nataliya Zayats – Reception, Tetiana Datsiuk – Reception, Oksana Lokatyr – Reception, Liudmyla Kopeyko – Reception, Nataliia Chernichenko – Reception, Yuliia Parashchenyuk – Reception, Olena Gyvel – Reception/crafts, Olena Dobrova – Reception, Tetiana Zelena – Reception, Svitlana Furman – Reception, Lidia Stytsun – Reception, Tetiana Tytarenko – Reception, Liudmyla Priadko – Reception, Lidiia Struss – Reception, Uliana Riznyk – Reception.

• IT volunteers:

Tom Northwood – IT, Bohdan Terlecky – IT.