Last weekend saw the official opening of a Ukrainian School in the Richmond borough in a bid to nurture the country's language and culture amongst young Ukrainians living in London.

The move has seen Richmond Council provide funds for St. Mary's Ukrainian School to operate a satellite site at St. Richard's Church of England primary school in Ham.

The school is set to operate on Sundays offering Ukrainian language lessons as well as classes in Ukrainian literature, history and geography, allowing pupils to keep up with Ukrainian national curriculum alongside their mainstream UK education.

According to a leaked U.S. intelligence documents, U.S. officials estimated earlier this year that Ukraine has currently suffered between 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, including 15,500 to 17,500 killed in action since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

Richmond has played its part in helping to accommodate refugees from the war-torn country, with some 91 visas having been approved for people finding a home under the borough's Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

From the Ukrainian restaurant Prosperity in Twickenham leading the way for huge quantities of emergency aid being sent, to donations from residents across the borough including Teddington, today's official announcement of the new school that has landed in the borough is the latest effort from Richmond upon Thames to support the troubled nation.

Over 60 children have registered to attend the Sunday school, which also offers enrichment and cultural activities such as choir, art and dancing. 

Cllr Nancy Baldwin, Spokesperson for Communities, Equalities and the Voluntary Sector at Richmond Council, said: "It was a great honour to attend the opening of this new school this past weekend; meeting some of our youngest Ukrainian guests and their amazing teachers.  

"The people of Richmond upon Thames have welcomed Ukrainians with open homes and open arms, and we have supported over 200 hundred children to settle into local schools. However, a Ukrainian education is such an important part of their growth and development into proud, talented young Ukrainian citizens, so I am delighted we have been able to bring this education opportunity to them, right here in our borough."

Established in the 1950s, St. Mary's Ukrainian school is a supplementary community school based in Holland park in west London that aims to nurture Ukrainian language and culture amongst young Ukrainians in London.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the school has expanded to additional locations to cater for the hundreds more children who have registered to attend.

Parents living in Richmond upon Thames can register their children here.