Zoe & Jim
Hi, we are Zoe & Jim,
Hi, we are Zoe & Jim.
We arrived in the Bay in 2014 and quickly settled in making new friends and acquaintances.
Within a very short space of time, we starting hosting foreign exchange students and have so far hosted over 150 students from all around the world.
In February 2022, when the war broke out in Ukraine, we took the decision to try and help the Ukrainian nationals. To begin with, we attended some meetings with the intention of learning, and helping other potential hosts learn, about the process of getting refugees over to the area and, ultimately, safety.
This quickly escalated to forming this group and, as our Ukrainian friend began to arrive, helping them with clothing, food, advice and, of course, the seemingly endless paperwork to get them all the help and necessities that they needed.
With the experience of helping our new friends settle in, we took the decision to expand our experience and create a Community Interest Company to help not only the Ukrainians, but also the residents of the Bay that are also in need of help and support.
An Introduction to our group members:
David and Shirley
Hi everyone, we are David and Shirley Harwood. We are part of a dedicated team of volunteers assisting the settlement of our Ukrainian visitors.
My background (David) is in adult education specifically as Head of Engineering within a college of the University of Wales and subsequently running, together with my wife Shirley an Education and Training business. Shirley has a background in Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. We are now retired but busier than ever.
Together, with the team, we have set up a charitable organisation called a Community Interest Company (CIC) which will enable Torbay-Ukraine Support CIC to raise and distribute money to support the Ukrainian visitor community in settling in the UK.
We are hosting family and look forward to assisting them as they begin this phase of their life in the UK.
We look forward to working with all the supporters and visitors and helping whenever possible to make this experience as smooth as possible
Dr David and Mrs Shirley Harwood
Damian
Hi everyone, I am Damian and am a part of the Torbay Ukraine Support management team. I arrived in Torbay over 35 years ago as part of the diaspora from the Northern and Scottish heavy industry heartlands. I have had a varied career working for and owning businesses both local, national and international. I served on TBC from the late 90s into the turn of the century as the local councillor for the Tormohun ward. I am currently hosting two families of five Ukrainians that arrived on 10th April. They are the most beautiful people and are now engaged in fulltime school, work and their own businesses. We are all trying our best to offer succour , help and assistance so please if you can help in anyway contact us or come along to our meetings.
Thank you Damian