THREE Ukrainian women have marked Refugee Week 2025 by thanking Redditch communities for their welcome and support.
The refugee trio has also set up a cultural company called Creative Carousel to use their professional skills to teach art and dance to youngsters in the town.
Tetiana Volikova, Yana Tishyna and Sveta Vasylieva all sought sanctuary in the town to protect their children from the life-threatening war in their home country.
They have been supported by the charity Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcome Refugees (BRWR).
Yana, who has twin 10-year-old sons. said: “It’s the most important for us that we escape only because we want to give our kids a safe and happy childhood.”
But her parents are still living in Kyiv.
“They are bombed every day,” she added.
“Every couple of hours we have alarms and every couple of hours in school, kids have to go to the bomb shelter, all the people have to hide somewhere underground.
“They are very scared but they’re used to it now. It’s just horrible.”
Sveta who has her two boys in Redditch but a husband back in Ukraine, said the trio could not be more grateful for the welcome and support they have received.
She said: “I met many wonderful people here. I met many friends here. I have a big support in Redditch. I’m really happy to be here.
“My only wish is the war in Ukraine can stop – this is my only wish.”
The trio are now combining their talents to give back to the community with their company Creative Carousel.
Back in Ukraine, Yana was a professional choreographer and Sveta a professional artist.
Now they’re passing on their skills to a cohort of youngsters, under the management of club organiser Tetiana, who is also a qualified voice coach.
She said: “We want people to know about us; to understand we can be useful. For us, we want to get professional recognition.
“We can help all our children in the community to try something new because no Ukrainians previously did something like that here, so it’s like a new sparkle of something you can try, and we’re sure you will like it.”
Refugee Week 2025 has the theme ‘Community as a Superpower’ and Tetiana says the club is a good example.
“I understand that being a refugee is also like feeling a bit isolated from community,” she added.
The club, which already includes children from many national backgrounds, also aims to promote integration.
Tetiana said: “We are happy to see children from that background in our small community because we are sure children will enjoy it and have a lot of smiles and fun time being with us.
“And the parents – they never knew each other before, but now they are joined by us, by our children.
“It always gives you more power because you are not alone.”
The club, which is based in Headless Cross, is supported by Redditch Borough Council and Rotary Redditch Kingfisher, as well as BRWR.
Visit creativecarousel.co.uk or brwr.uk for more information.
