Support to Build a New Life Through the People Hub

Yevheniia arrived in Cornwall with her teenage son in 2022 through the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme, facing major challenges.

Struggling with the English language and coping with the trauma of leaving behind her husband, friends and family in Ukraine, she felt lost in her new environment.

She first turned to the People Hub’s partner, Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C), to meet other Ukrainians and share experiences. She then joined the Parent Power programme to boost her wellbeing and improve her English. She took a housekeeping job but aimed to improve her English for better opportunities.

At first, Yevheniia didn’t feel ready for formal training as her English skills weren’t strong enough. She enrolled in an ‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’ (ESOL) course at Cornwall College but felt she needed additional support. Her Change Coach helped her find an online ESOL course that fitted around her working hours, secured a fully funded laptop for her and enrolled her in a digital skills course to further support her learning.

To aid her health and wellbeing, her Change Coach referred her to the ‘Safe Space Group’ at the CN4C Hub in St Austell for Ukrainian refugees, which she attended regularly on Saturdays. During a particularly difficult period, the project funded a month’s access to the local leisure centre where she could swim, use the gym and take part in other fitness activities to help ease her worries about events in Ukraine. To assist with travel costs and mobility, the project funded a bike for her, saving her money on bus fares. She was delighted, as she had loved cycling in Ukraine and missed the exercise. This became a long-term boost for her wellbeing and she told us she was making great use of it.

As her language skills and confidence grew, Yevheniia felt ready for a career change. In September 2024, she enrolled in a Level 2 Catering course at Cornwall College, determined to become a chef. Her Change Coach helped her find the course and the project funded her uniform and some necessary equipment. Now, several months into the course and thoroughly enjoying it, Yevheniia has also received funding for a Level 2 Food Hygiene course to enhance her employability in the catering industry.

Looking back, Yevheniia said, “I am happy with my experience on the People Hub and Parent Power project. It has benefitted me by supporting me to enrol on a Cornwall College course in Catering, provided some equipment to get me started and paid for a course in Food Hygiene. CN4C and the People Hub have also supported my family too and I am so grateful for this. They have been there for the Ukrainian community and if we have any difficulties we know that we can go to someone for support with lots of different things. This has been invaluable and I am so happy with my experience.”