Hammersmith Meeting House has been running an Open House event for displaced Ukrainians fleeing from the war since 2022. The event regularly attracts 60-70 Ukrainian refugees at any one time. The Open House started out as a place of refuge, and a place of welcome and sanctuary, initially offering just food, drink, teas, coffees and cakes and clothing.
The Open House started shortly after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine when we heard about Hammersmith & Fulham taking in quite a few. We thought it would just be nice to show them they are very welcome and to offer them some support and to meet with other friends from Ukraine.
The Meeting House is a designated house of Sanctuary so we got in touch with Hammersmith & Fulham Council and told them to invite everyone they had contact details for. It was very small at first, just about 15 people turned up but it soon became clear that they needed more than a welcoming face serving them teas, cakes and food. They needed sponsors, houses, grants, visas, medical help, schooling, etc. We asked the Council to send over an officer to help us. The council quickly realised that we were doing such a great job that they started to send two, three sometimes up to four or five officers from various departments to come along and assist. They decided that we do it so well that they now pay to hire the building and give us some funds towards the food as well.
They even asked us if we would put on similar events for their other refugees which we also now do. They seem to think we did a pretty good job as they presented us with a Civic Honour Award.
One really sweet comment early on was one of the refugees said she loved coming to us as, “It is the only place I feel truly safe and supported” and that really touched us.
Written by Christian Howgill, Hammersmith Quaker Meeting.
Image: Councillor Bora Kwon (far left) gives a Civic Honour to refugee group organisers Belinda Mitchell-Innes and Christian Howgill (centre). Pictured with Fulham FC sponsors Darren Preston and Mike McSweeney (right).