Appeal Funds Summer Programme supporting Ukrainian 'Children to be Children'

In April 2022, MK Community Foundation launched an appeal to support vulnerable Ukrainian families and individuals settling in Milton Keynes.

The Foundation hoped the appeal would help to ease some of the hardship, isolation and fear faced by individuals as they started their new lives here in our community.

One year on since the invasion in Ukraine, we look back at the support we have been able to give over the last year.

Ride High are one of the organisations who were awarded a grant to provide support to Ukrainian refugees.

The organisation used the grant to provide a summer programme for Ukrainian refugee children who have recently arrived in Milton Keynes.

“The intention of our programme was to offer the children something positive to focus on; to help them feel welcome and settle into our community, and to help reduce potential long-term negative effects on their future wellbeing.”

The children took part in a variety of activities such as horse riding, horse care, creative activities, games, volunteering at Loughton Lakes and even made handmade patchwork quilts!

“I’ve made new friends. I learnt to make a rocket and launch it. Ride High made me feel happy” 

“As they found their confidence with the horses, they found their voices and started to make friends with each other and talk freely to Mark our Club Leader and all the volunteers. Their English improved throughout the programme and they were even trying to teach us Ukrainian!”

Ride High produced a short film of the children during their programme, which you watch by clicking here.