CAPTION: Lena and her children had to flee Bucha because it was too dangerous to stay there
Archdeacon of Plymouth’s Ukrainian Guests Celebrate New Baby
A Ukrainian woman who is being hosted by the Archdeacon of Plymouth, Nick Shutt and his wife Corinne has given birth to a daughter in hospital in Plymouth.
Lena Kulakovska fled Bucha with her two young children after their home was destroyed by bombing.
She made it to Germany and the family were driven to the UK by the Archdeacon of Exeter’s PA, Beth Collier and her husband, because Lena was 36 weeks pregnant and no longer permitted to fly.
Baby Nicole was born at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital in July. Lena had to leave her husband Sergii in Ukraine.
“Having someone share your home is something you have to be very realistic about because it impacts your life – but doing the right thing is so rewarding even if it is demanding. I would do it again at the drop of a hat.” Archdeacon of Plymouth, Nick Shutt
Nicole’s birth has been widely covered in the UK national newspapers, ITV News, on BBC Radio Devon and on BBC R4 Woman’s Hour! You can listen to the R4 interview here (at 40mins into the programme).
Journey to Devon
Lena, who is a restaurant manager and event organiser, told the BBC: “It was very hard to make the decision to leave our lives in Ukraine and come to the UK, but it would have been too dangerous to give birth there.
The journey to Devon took four days. Lena said “Nick Shutt, the Archdeacon, and his staff did everything they could to make it happen quickly and organised everything very good.”
Lena said living in Devon she was no longer afraid and felt she could start to plan her future now: “Everybody here has tried to help me and I want to thank all the people here in Devon and say thanks to Nick Shutt and his family for their help to my family.”
Lena said she had hoped to return to Ukraine in the new year, but now did not know if that would be possible. She said “I am starting to look at Plan B and maybe staying here for a long time. I would like to find a job and be useful, not just stay here.”
Ukraine Support “A marathon not a sprint”
Lena and baby Nicole with her older two children
Nick Shutt, who leads the Diocese of Exeter Ukraine Support group, as well as hosting Lena and her family, said “We have been very fortunate in being able to help Lena and her young family. She is incredibly brave coming to a strange country to have her baby and to keep her family safe.
“She has been on quite a journey in the last few months and sadly, there is no current prospect of the war in Ukraine coming to an end any time soon.”
Nick is one of a team of diocese volunteers who have been interviewing Ukrainian families hoping to come to Devon on Zoom in order to match them with appropriate host families. He said there is a still a need for new host families, particularly in urban areas:
“Having someone share your home is something you have to be very realistic about because it impacts your life – but doing the right thing is so rewarding even if it is demanding. I would do it again at the drop of a hat.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint and whilst Ukraine may be slipping down the news agenda we need to remain committed to helping as many of these people as possible. Listening to their stories first hand as we interview them brings it home how desperate their situations are.”
If you would like to offer to be a host family, please email email our Ukraine team.
