South Cotswolds Leading the Way in Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees this Christmas

With nearly 4,250 Ukrainians finding refuge in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, the South Cotswolds has emerged as a beacon of welcome and community support, exemplified by heartfelt initiatives like Malmesbury's Ukrainian Christmas Carol Service.
Gloucestershire and Wiltshire rank among the highest counties in the South West for hosting Ukrainian refugees. According to gov.uk statistics for the year ending September 2024, the Homes for Ukraine scheme has recorded 2,356 arrivals in Gloucestershire and 1,892 in Wiltshire.
What could be underpinning these remarkable figures? As Roz Savage MP experienced firsthand on Saturday 14th December at a Ukrainian Christmas Carol Service, rural towns like Malmesbury have embraced creative and heartfelt ways to welcome refugees and help them feel at home.
The annual carol service, organised by local support group Malmesbury Stands With Ukraine, in partnership with Malmesbury Abbey, brought together Ukrainian guests, their hosts, and residents from the local area. About 100 people attended the event, which featured a blend of carols and readings in both English and Ukrainian. A poignant candlelit moment saw attendees singing Silent Night simultaneously in English and Ukrainian.
The service was conducted by Revd. Deborah Scott Bromley, with readings from Cllr. Phil Exton, Mayor of Malmesbury; Roz Savage; and Gavin Grant, Wiltshire Councillor for Malmesbury and convenor of the local support group. Revd. Scott Bromley also reflected on the global search for peace, including in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and Yemen.
Following the service, attendees shared homemade Ukrainian cakes and coffee, in a warm and joyous celebration of Ukraine’s culture.
Liz Taylor, from Bybrook Homes for Ukraine, shared her organisation’s impactful work:
"Our Bybrook Homes for Ukraine group was founded to support Ukrainian guests and their sponsors in Wiltshire’s rural villages, including Castle Combe, Biddestone, and Yatton Keynell. We help with everything from transport to housing, English tutoring, and sourcing essentials like beds and car seats.
Thanks to Wiltshire Council’s efforts, most guests are now rehoused in towns like Chippenham and Devizes, but we continue supporting them wherever they live. With over 100 Ukrainians on our books, alongside an Afghan asylum-seeking family, our dedicated volunteers ensure no one is left without help, whether for transport, housing, or urgent medical needs."
Roz Savage MP shared her reflections on the carol service:
"The Ukrainian carol service in Malmesbury Abbey was incredibly moving. The Carol of the Bells sung in Ukrainian had to be one of the highlights of my festive season. And I got to meet a lady who discovered her latent artistic talent after arriving here and now sells her joyously colourful artwork - a few months ago I became the proud owner of one of her paintings. And I met a young man who arrived here with not a word of English, who has not only learned our language, but also secured himself a very successful career in IT.
I really admire the courage of the Ukrainians who have carved out a new life for themselves in the South Cotswolds. It can't be easy to be driven away from your home country by war, and move to a strange land. But both Malmesbury and the refugees have made a real effort to get to know each other, and at Christmas it is heartwarming to celebrate this success story."
This carol service exemplifies how local communities in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire are fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for refugees, showcasing the power of grassroots initiatives to make a lasting difference.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- Figures surrounding Homes for Ukraine arrivals taken from Gov.uk’s Regional and local authority data on immigration groups, which can be found here.
- Figures for Gloucestershire include Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, South Gloucestershire, Stroud and Tewkesbury councils.
- Figures for Wiltshire include Swindon too.
- Photo credit: Liz Cook