Tag Archives: Ukraine

Homes for Ukraine

Now is their hour of need:

Ukrainian teenagers have attended More Than English international summer school every year since the school started in 2015. Now, is their hour of need. We have been requested by families in the Ukraine fleeing the war to help them find safe accommodation and school places. More Than English, based in Ludlow, Shropshire, can connect British families seeking to offer accommodation to Ukrainians as part of the UK government's Homes For Ukraine Scheme.
Volodomyr,  from Ukraine – MTE alumnus

UK government Homes for Ukraine Scheme

The UK government has launched the Homes For Ukraine scheme. British people, with spare rooms, empty houses or second homes, can sponsor Ukrainians to come to the UK through a simplified visa process.

Our partner school Moor Park, is already in the process of enrolling six Ukrainian students and Ludlow High School is in the process of enrolling one child from Donestk.

The challenge

The problem is that most British people do not know the contact details of any refugees fleeing from the Ukraine, which means they cannot sponsor them.

The solution

More Than English has started to create a database of Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK.  Most are mothers fleeing the war with their children. Some are adults. In addition, several teenagers travelling alone without parents have also contacted us and we will try to place them directly in UK boarding schools.

Marta and Victoria from Ukraine
Marta and Victoria from Ukraine – MTE alumni

How can I get details of Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK?

If you live anywhere in the UK (but especially in Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire within a 30 mile radius of Tenbury Wells and Ludlow) and would like to provide accommodation for a Ukrainian family under the UK government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, please provide details of the accommodation you are willing to provide using the form at this link, so that we can match you to the families or individuals that you can help.

Want to help more?

More Than English is looking for volunteers to help us coordinate matching Ukrainians to offers of accommodation. Please call David or Claire if you would like to help: 01584 812562.

More Than English is based in Ludlow, Shropshire.

Thank you. 

Useful links: 

‘Homes For Ukraine’ scheme – homepage (UK gov.)

‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme FAQs (UK gov.)

Apply for a visa – Homes For Ukraine Scheme (UK gov.)

Visits to Ukraine and Russia

International life

Blog by More Than English co-owner: David Meddows

One summer, when I was 8 years old my parents took me to the Austrian mountain resort of Mayrhofen where we spent a week walking in the mountains. This experience made a big impression on me. The people, the language, the sublime mountain scenery and new foods that we’d never experienced before such as the unforgettable apple strudel. This is where my love of experiencing other cultures began and I will always be grateful to my parents for giving me this opportunity.

That passion for reaching the hand of friendship across borders is what inspires our work here at More Than English today. We love historic Ludlow: the home of More Than English in the heart of England. However, sometimes, it is very refreshing to travel and see somewhere different. This month, team members from More Than English were lucky enough to visit Russia and Ukraine.

Travel with a purpose

Travelling on business means double the pleasure, You meet much more people than when you are on holiday. Also, on the way to meetings, you pass by incredible sights. Here’s what we saw:

Kyiv captial of Ukraine

Have you ever seen a cathedral like this before? St Michael’s Golden Domed Cathedral was renovated in 1999. The outside is a stunning example of baroque style:

St Michael’s Golden Domed Cathedral

Moscow

Nothing can prepare you for when you turn the corner at the end of Nikolskaya street and see Red Square:

  • Red Square
  • View from inside St Basil’s
  • St Basil’s Cathedral

Next we took the incredible Sapsan train from Moscow to St Petersburg: it looks like a rocket and it goes like a rocket. Imagine that it took less than 4 hours to travel in comfort from Moscow to St Petersburg.

  • The famous Sapsan super train

St Petersburg

You have probably heard that St Petersburg is a beautiful city. However, nothing can prepare you for how beautiful it really is. Perhaps St Petersburg is the most beautiful city in the world and certainly it is on a scale that challenges your imagination. We cannot think of another city in the world where you can see so many fine buildings in one place.

  • Kazan Cathedral

The splendour does not end even when you go below ground. Here is the St Petersburg underground:

  • Elegant lighting
  • Mayakoskaya Metro Station
  • Functional & beautiful: air ventilation system
  • Claire from More Than English

Food

After all of that travelling we got very hungry and tried many different foods, but there was one very simple one that we loved: black bread! It’s very filling and highly nutritious… in one inventive cafe they even used it as a bowl for soup!

  • Super healthy black bread
  • David from More Than English

People

What links a trip to the Ukraine and a trip to Russia? There are many things but one thing above all: if you go to either place, expect a warm welcome. If you only stop for a minute to look at a map of the underground in either country, someone will offer you help. So even when the temperatures are a little low in the middle of winter, you won’t feel the cold.

The next generation of travellers

Feeling the spirit of international friendship is also a magical experience for the students at More Than English. This year our students, who live and study together on one campus, were from 17 countries: Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, UAE, Ukraine and the UK.   In addition to learning to use their English in new ways our students took a step on an international journey that will continue for a life time. Now, we’re looking forward to bringing the world a little closer together on summer school 2020!

A surprise around every corner: inside St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square. Only 4 people in this incredible choir.