A young Ukrainian family who have made a new life in “beautiful” Keswick after escaping their bombed-out homeland are appealing for help as another unsettling move looms.
After Putin’s brutal invasion, the Sorin family of mum, dad and two young children fled their home city of Kharkiv before passage to Poland as refugees before reaching Denmark.
In May, they arrived in Keswick for a six-month stay with a host family in Penrith Road – David Williams, a former vicar, and wife Gaynor, a retired GP – which is now coming to an end.
The family have made friends in Keswick, found jobs and got their children sorted at school – delivering stability and sanity after a terrifying year.
Mum Anastasiia does weekend shifts for Kat’s Kitchen while dad Bogdan is settled in a five-day-a-week bakery job for Bryson’s of Keswick.
Bogdan likes his job and workmates, while Anastasiia’s employer Kat has gone the extra mile to help the family, such as providing bicycles for them to explore Keswick – a world away from their devastated home in the city of Kharkiv, the second largest in Ukraine, and formerly home to 1.4 million people.
Son Illia, five this month, is also loving life at St Herbert’s School, having made “lovely” friends, and two-year-old sister Elina, three in December, is excited to be following him by starting nursery there in the New Year. But after a year of escaping war, their new start in Keswick is not guaranteed.
Instead of missiles threatening the roof over their heads, it’s Keswick’s chronic shortage of affordable housing.
Like many others, they have found very few options on the rental market or unaffordable rents – while the town’s holiday lets number at least 640.
But the family will only speak highly of Keswick, its people and their hosts. And while the offer to stay longer with their hosts remains, they want to put down roots and have issued an urgent appeal to anyone who may have accommodation who could help.
Their hosts retired to Keswick from Skipton nearly eight years ago and have only been too happy to share their home.
The Williamses said: “As their time in our home draws to an end, the family would dearly like to remain in Keswick. Not only have they been uprooted by war in their own country, but they have lived in two other countries this year before being given shelter here.
“Like all families, they need stability. It would be a great shame if they had to uproot themselves from Keswick and begin again in another town. We all know that rental properties in Keswick are both scarce and rather expensive, so we put out this appeal in case any readers may know of a reasonable two-bedroom property in the town or nearby which might be made available.”
Anastasiia told the Reminder the family had never seen anywhere as beautiful as Keswick. She said: “We have met many good people here. We really appreciate the help we have been given at this very difficult time in our lives. Dave and Gaynor are like extra family.
“They have given us not only a place to live but show love towards us. We like eating together as it feels like family – it feels like home.
“Ideally we want to stay here to continue our lives in Keswick with support from Dave and Gaynor. Neighbours and town people have been very kind and helpful to our family and I am very grateful. A big thank you to all those who have helped.”
- Can you help? Get in touch with The Keswick Reminder at [email protected]
