Vicar helping Ukrainian community appointed MBE

Very Reverend Father Mykola Matwijiwskyj said he was "very grateful" to be recognised

A vicar who has helped people in the Ukrainian community for 40 years has been appointed MBE in the King's Birthday Honours.

Very Reverend Father Mykola Matwijiwskyj, 62, from Coventry, is one of the most senior figures in the Ukrainian Catholic church for England, Scotland and Wales.

He has established a fund assisting Ukrainians with repatriation costs and played a key role in setting up a welcome centre for people from the country.

The father-of-four said he felt the honour was for "the whole team", including the clergy and volunteers.

Fr Mykola has worked for the church for nearly 20 years and before that was a director of the Ukrainian Information Service in England.

A child of a migrant, he said his father was one of about 30,000 Ukrainians accepted into England after World War Two.

He added: "The majority were men... [They] had mixed marriages. My mother was a Coventry girl.

"I'm humbled by [the honour] because I didn't expect anything.

"We've all been [doing] what we could do to help."

He has been honoured for being heavily involved with the Ukrainian community and volunteering within it

After dying in the UK, 100 people have been repatriated to Ukraine since 2021 with the fund's help, supported by regular church service collections.

In London, in the basement of the Ukrainian Catholic church's cathedral, the welcome centre was set up and it has supported 2,000 people in a year.

In a venture that has also involved the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB), individuals might need help over "documents, registering with a GP or... Universal Credit", the senior figure said.

'Pride in eyes'

Fr Mykola chairs a committee for AUGB, works with youth organisations and, since Russia's invasion, has worked to provide faith support to people who have left Ukraine.

One of his "most moving events" was at Easter last year.

After a service, young soldiers "thanked me for being with them" and he added: "One said 'It'd [probably] be my last Easter'. It was so moving.

"I'll never forget... The pride in his eyes, how sure of himself that what he's doing is right, to defend his homeland, family."

Since 2022, he has supported some of the ordinary Ukrainian men and women who have trained to become soldiers in the UK government-led Operation Interflex.

Attendances at the cathedral in London have increased since the invasion and he has contributed to creating new parishes.

Asked about the honour, he said he was "shocked, surprised and humbled - very thankful, very grateful".

Chris Powell made more than 700 senior appearances as a player, including 274 in the Premier League with Charlton Athletic, Derby County and Watford

Former footballer and current coach Chris Powell, 54, is also among those from Warwickshire to be appointed MBE.

The left-back made more than 700 senior appearances from 1986 to 2010, including 274 in the Premier League for Charlton Athletic, Derby County and Watford.

Powell was also boss at Charlton Athletic, Southend United and Huddersfield Town, played five times for England in 2001 and was chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) from 2005 until he retired.

'Delighted and humbled'

He has also been part of England's coaching staff led by Gareth Southgate, and an ambassador for a range of organisations and charities, including anti-racism charity Kick it Out and Show Racism the Red Card.

Powell said he was "delighted and humbled to receive the honour of an MBE for services to football".

"I always thought that representing my country and The FA would be the pinnacle of my career, as both a player and a coach, but this honour is beyond my expectations," he said.

"The game I love has given so much to me, but this recognition wouldn’t be possible without the support of so many people".

He thanked staff, players and supporters at clubs he had been at and the PFA, adding that he was proud to support charities, expressing gratitude to friends and mentioned family for their love, support, "sacrifice, wisdom and knowledge".