Ukrainian Youth Project

Bilingual youth project for children aged 11-17 who arrived in the UK on the Homes for Ukraine Resettlement scheme and currently live or study in the London Borough of Lewisham.

UYPL was set up to build a Ukrainian youth community, improve well-being, maintain Ukrainian culture and ethnic identity, and tackle isolation.

60 +

participants

Over 100

sessions

More than 40

diverse activities

Our activities & sessions

We meet 2 times weekly, offering activities such as themed parties, workshops, quizzes, board games, movie nights, trips, sports (like volleyball), art challenges, and much more.

All activities, including snacks, are completely FREE.

The project fosters resilience, emotional well-being, and social connections, empowering young refugees to navigate their new environment with confidence.

Who can join the project

secondary school children aged 11 to 17
arrived to the UK after the 24th of February 2022 under Homes for Ukraine Scheme,
currently live or study in the London Borough of Lewisham

Our project activities are designed to spark interests and create opportunities to build trust, sense of stability and belonging

Creative Expression

These activities provide a safe space for young people to express emotions, process experiences, and develop artistic skills. And for us, as youth workers, to notice, identify and then fight their mental health issues and struggles.
Engaging in creative projects fosters a sense of identity and stability, which is crucial for young person’s development.
Skills and Team activities

Quizzes, team challenges, expert-led workshops and creative problem-solving games help the participants build confidence, think critically, and improve communication and life skills.
These activities also create a sense of belonging, encouraging teamwork and integration into their new environment.
Trips and Social outing

Outings to places like bowling, mini golf, laser tag and etc. help them feel part of the community, enjoy their teenage years, reduce isolation and stress.
These trips provide opportunities to socialise, build friendships, and enjoy normal childhood experiences despite all the challenges they are currently facing.

Our mission is to support the mental health and development of Ukrainian youth, overcoming barriers to integration, preventing anti-social behavior, and helping them build a positive future in an unstable world.

We build trust, sense of stability, and belonging, which are essential for mentoring vulnerable youth navigating trauma, displacement, cultural shock, financial instability, grief, family issues or mental heath problems.

We encourage friend-to-friend conversations that guide them in navigating life and sharing lived experiences. We also provide one-on-one private chats within group settings.

Additionally, art therapy and other methods enable us to understand the emotional state of each participant, helping us identify relevant support and address any challenges.

Jack Petchey Achievement Awards Scheme winners

jack Petchey Achievement Awards is programme which recognises outstanding young people aged 11-25 across London and Essex. Winners are young people who have gone above and beyond to achieve – perhaps when others thought they might fail.

“The Achievement Awards are primarily about recognising those who put in the effort and do their best.” - Sir Jack Petchey CBE

Denys, winner 25.2

Sofiia & Vlad, winners 25.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at ukraineyouthproject@nascic.org.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Unfortunately, no, we can only accept children who meet the following requirements: they must be secondary school students aged 11 to 17, have arrived in the UK after 24th February 2022, and currently live or study in the London Borough of Lewisham.
All activities are completely free, including snacks, thanks to funding from Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary. Registration is required to participate in UYPL activities.
We meet 1-2 times weekly. Usual time for activities is 18:00 to 20:00. The exact days and locations vary, we announce it only to our project participants.

Feedback from our participants

“I enjoy UYPL so much and nowadays i can’t imagine my life without it. I`ve made a lot of friends there and took part in many activities that improved my mental health. I like UYPL so much and thankful to this project for helping ukrainians during this difficult time.”
"I really enjoy what we are doing now and it will be perfect if this community will continueto work because it’s really helped me to adapt in England and find new friends."
"Here I can be part of a big Ukrainian family even when I am far away from home. This is the best thing that could have happened in dull, rainy London, and I am so glad to have this opportunity."
"Here I can be myself and speak my native language and it's really cool! I've made a lot of friends here. We play, draw and even do various interesting projects together. We have many common hobbies, and we always support each other."
"Our meetings help to distract us from the sad circumstances in Ukraine. When I miss for home or worried about my family, communication in the community helps me feel supported and happy. We have fun together, learn and dream about the future, which gives us hope and strength to move forward."
"The Ukrainian Youth Project Lewisham - is not just a place where I spend my time. It is a place where I feel happy and accepted. It's like a big friendly family!"

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This project is commissioned by Lewisham Borough of Santuary and thanks to them our project provides a safe and welcoming space for Ukrainian teenagers to connect with peers, build friendships, and combat isolation while participating in fun, engaging, and creative activities.