MS vows to “open every possible door” to help refugees settling in north Wales

Clwyd South’s Member of the Senedd has promised to open ‘every possible door’ to refugees settling in North Wales during a visit to Wrexham-based charity.

UareUK (United to Assist Refugees UK) have a hub which supports refugees from Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Afghanisatan and other countries based in Wrexham.

Ken Skates MS met with the founder of the charity Jane Townsend and refugees Polina Horelova, Volodymyr Horelova and Vitalii Matashko at the start of the Llangollen Eisteddfod week to offer help and advice to the inspirational charity.

During the week refugees from the hub will perform as part of a mass choir at the White Flower peace concert at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Mum of 4, Polina Horelova and her family are from Mariupol. She is conducting the traditional Ukrainian folk piece River Song.

Members of the hub have also taken part in the Eisteddfod’s Parade of Nations in Llangollen to raise money and awareness of the vital work they do.

Founder of UareUK, Jane Townsend said, “We are incredibly excited and have a busy week in Llangollen.

“We were pleased to meet Ken Skates MS, who was hugely supportive of the work we are doing for so many displaced communities.

“He will be helping us moving forward and will open doors for us to continue doing our critical work.

“The Llangollen Eisteddfod is a peace festival and the fact that Polina is conducting one of the songs of the Mass Choir is amazing.

“We will be using the event to continue to raise awareness of the consequences of the war and the work we do from North Wales and the borders.”

Ken Skates MS met with Jane, Polina Horelova, her husband Volodymyr Horelova and Vitalii Matashko, who currently resides in Llangollen.

“Jane leads an amazing organisation that makes such a positive difference to so many lives,” explained Ken Skates.

“We are so proud that they are based in North Wales.

“It was emotional hearing their experiences and as a member of The Senedd, I will continue issues at the highest level, open every possible door and see how we can do more to help.

“We are proud in North Wales to host some amazing people who are going through horrific circumstances.”

Whilst Polina is preparing with New Sinfonia and the mass choir performing at the Eisteddfod her husband, Volodymyr continues to make regular trips back to Ukraine with aid.

Wingetts, based on Castle Street, launched their collection point during the festival and will be taking donations throughout the week and moving forward.

UareUK are asking specifically for protein bars, wooden cutlery, paper plates, power banks, water purification tablets and unlocked phones as many people lost theirs in the floods and have no means of contact.

The emptying of Kakhovka Reservoir has left tens of thousands of people in southern Ukraine without access to piped water, mainly in the Dnipro region. T

his is where Vitalii Matashko, currently based in Llangollen is from.

Vitalii, whose family currently live in Llangollen can often been seen around town wearing a donated Cefn Druids tracksuit top.

He said: “We have been amazed by and are extremely grateful to the Llangollen community for hosting us.

“The flooding where I am from is devastating and we have sent back as much aid as we can, all donated by the people of North Wales.

“Please try and make a small donation, especially during Eisteddfod week – it will make more of a positive difference than you know.”