Art sessions support refugees with mental health

Friendships are made as families take part in arts and crafts

A group supporting people who fled the war in Ukraine are using art to help support refugees with their mental health.

York Ukrainian Society started offering language skills and administration support to those Ukrainians who had settled in North Yorkshire with a bi-weekly meet-up in 2022.

Following a request from members, the group's co-founder Maryana Mukha has started running artistic sessions.

The group now offers practical activities including painting, clay modelling, drama and singing, which Ms Mukha said had really helped members with their mental wellbeing.

“We found out that they [the attendees] really feeling much better, the impact on their mental health is much nicer," she said.

"When they are around friends they can just chat about anything.”

Maryana Mukha said she wanted to ensure those who had been forced to leave Ukraine had the best support available in the UK

Ms Mukha said she began the group because she wanted newcomers to have a better experience than when she arrived 11 years ago.

“I remember when I came to this country, I wasn’t very confident with the English but that was developing more and more and I actually remembered myself that if someone had helped here I would have been further ahead." she said.

The group, which is based in St Michael’s Church in Spurriergate, initially supported people with their mental health and helped them to complete forms and register with GPs and schools.

Now, the group can host between 10 to 20 people or run special sessions for between 100 and 200 people.

Many of those who attend are women with children who find it difficult to keep their children occupied especially during the summer holidays.

The art sessions have proved popular with those who have never painted before

While English lessons have helped many participants become more independent, Ms Mukha said it was important to help them retain their Ukrainian identity.

"The children are doing Ukrainian lessons and sometimes if they need support with some English conversations we provide this support,” Mrs Mukha said.

“Lots of them are desperate to go back to Ukraine, they have everything there but they don’t feel safe there with small children.

"They feel more Ukrainian in the UK because they have started to use their language.”

She said the art sessions helped the members feel happy and encouraged them to make friends and interact with each other.

Many of those who attend the sessions have young children

Yuliia Kiriienko has been coming to the group for six months.

"It’s very helpful for us, we can gather together and speak to each other, share stories with each other and understand each other," she said.

It is her first time painting as she struggles to find time around looking after her six-year-old daughter Vera.

She said being able to bring Vera means she can spend time with other Ukrainian children.

York Ukrainian Society’s co-founder Maryana Mukha is a finalist in the community award category of BBC Radio York’s Make a Difference Awards.

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