St. Mary’s Ukrainian school is a supplementary community school established in 1950s with the aim of nurturing Ukrainian language and culture amongst the young Ukrainians in London. It is the largest school of its kind in the UK and prior to 2022 catered for approximately 250 children of the Ukrainian decent from the premises of the Ukrainian cultural centre in Holland Park staffed predominantly by volunteers.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, St. Mary’s school has welcomed hundreds of displaced children and their families with over 500 new children registered in August 2022 with the total of 1,000 anticipated for the academic year 2022/2023. To accommodate the growing number of students, the school had to expand to three more premises with 75% of the new staff recruited being the displaced teachers from Ukraine. The new expanded curriculum is covering the Ukrainian language, Literature, History and Geography attuned to the Ukrainian national standard enabling the senior displaced children to work towards the Ukrainian school leaver’s exams in addition to fitting into the UK educational system.

Help us raise £350,000 to support 500 displaced children in 2022-2023

With vast majority of displaced families being refugees unable to pay for the school provision, the school is in a desperate need of funding. It costs £700 to provide 1 child with 40 Saturdays of academic studies, a hot meal, learning resources and uniform.

By supporting our school, you’re giving the vulnerable displaced children the opportunity to reconned with their peers who share the same language and culture, to remember where they have come from without the fear of bombs and sirens and gradually rebuild their confidence to one day return to Ukraine.