For seven-year-old Dasha, the school holidays are now something to look forward to – filled with fun, friendship and a growing sense of confidence. But just a few years ago, life looked very different.
Dasha and her mum Iryna arrived in North Yorkshire from Kharkiv, Ukraine, fleeing the Russian invasion that devastated their hometown, located just 50 kilometres from the border.
“Kharkiv has been under constant attack since the very first day,” explains Iryna. “We came here to try to live a normal life, not in a basement, or under missile fire. It was such a tough decision, leaving everything behind – our family, our home, our language and culture. But we’re so grateful to the UK for the support we’ve had.”
Now living near Catterick, Iryna works full time for North Yorkshire Council. Her daughter Dasha started school not long after arriving, speaking no English. Thanks to a kind and supportive ‘Homes for Ukraine’ sponsor – “a retired primary school teacher who read to her and helped so much” – Dasha quickly began to adapt.
“She didn’t know a single word when we arrived,” says Iryna. “Then one day our sponsor asked her to point to the colour red in a book, and she did. I was so emotional.”
Like many working parents, Iryna needed support during the school holidays but, as she explains, “Your childcare system is completely different to ours in Ukraine. I had to do a lot of research.”
The North Yorkshire Together website helped with that research, and there Iryna learned about FEAST, a programme designed to help children and young people across North Yorkshire to access free activities with food during the school holidays. Iryna discovered she was able to book holiday activities using e-vouchers sent by Dasha’s school with a local activity provider called PT Childcare. She admits she was nervous at first.
“Everything was still so new. Dasha wasn’t confident and I wasn’t sure how she’d settle. But Beki and the staff at PT were amazing – they met us, made us feel welcome, and Dasha loved it from the first day.”
Now, PT Childcare is a regular part of their lives. For Dasha, the sessions have offered more than just a place to play – they’ve been key to her development.
“She’s socialising, building friendships, and it’s helped her mental health. Her English has come on so much – she even speaks with a Yorkshire accent now!” Iryna laughs.
The connection with PT Childcare has also opened doors to other opportunities. “Because of Beki, Dasha now goes to choir too, and she loves it. She’s even sung with them at the Royal Albert Hall, which was an amazing opportunity. Beki plays a really significant role in our lives.”
As for FEAST, Iryna says the benefits have been both practical and personal. “It’s helped us save money, which is so important. But even more than that, it introduced me to local activity providers and helped me understand how everything works here. It made things less overwhelming.”
Her advice to other Ukrainian families in similar situations? “Definitely use FEAST, and definitely try PT Childcare. I’ve already recommended it to friends. It’s made a big difference for us.
If you’re, interested in joining in with FEAST this school holiday, there are activities all over North Yorkshire. There’s also funded transport you can apply for if you live too far from activities. Check out our activity finder or ‘frequently asked questions’ to learn more.