More than 100 people attended the barbecue on Monday, organised by Swindon Welcomes Ukraine. Ukrainian families, host families and local residents gathered to celebrate friendship and community spirit.
The event also marked growing ties between Swindon and Rivne, with formal arrangements for a partnership expected to progress in the coming weeks.
Newly elected Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council Jake Chandler attended the event and confirmed discussions are advancing. He said:
“I’m really excited to be here today, because we have an announcement coming forward in the next few weeks that Swindon will be formally engaging in a town partnership with the city of Rivne in the centre of Ukraine.”
Speaking about the similarities between the two areas, he added:
“Rivne is a city not unlike Swindon, with many sorts of commonalities, similar industries, similar pastimes, big football team, big speedway support in Rivne.”
One of the first initiatives expected under the partnership is a collaborative charity beer. A Rivne recipe will be brewed in Swindon, with proceeds supporting Ukrainian causes.
The proposed twinning arrangement has already received backing from both councils. In a letter to former Mayor of Swindon Fay Howard, Rivne City Council described the partnership as
“a strong foundation for joint projects in the fields of culture, education, youth policy, environmental protection, local governance, and humanitarian cooperation”.
The letter, signed by Rivne City Council Secretary Viktor Shakyrzian, also praised Swindon’s support for Ukraine since the start of the war and invited an official delegation to Rivne for the signing of the agreement.
In response, Fay said Swindon was “very much in favour of moving forward with this partnership” and highlighted the strong bonds formed between local residents and Ukrainian families.
Swindon Welcomes Ukraine Chair Anastasiia Banatska, who is originally from Rivne, said the development had been deeply emotional for many Ukrainians now living in the town. She said:
“When we first arrived in Swindon, people opened their homes, schools, businesses and hearts to Ukrainians escaping war. To now see that compassion growing into a formal partnership between Swindon and my home city of Rivne is something incredibly powerful.
This is about much more than politics, it is about long-term friendship between communities.”
Vice-Chair Kris Talikowski said the group has grown significantly since it was formed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He said:
“Over the last four years, Swindon Welcomes Ukraine has helped hundreds of people settle into life here, from housing and school places to jobs, language support and building lasting friendships.
What started as a humanitarian response has become a genuine community movement, and the proposed twinning with Rivne shows just how deep those connections now run.”
Since the outbreak of war, Swindon has welcomed over 500 Ukrainians who have formed a community, supported by volunteers, charities and host families across the borough.
Sunday’s event reflected that support, with families from both countries sharing food, music and conversation while plans for a formal partnership move closer to becoming reality.
