A single mum who fled from Ukraine with her two children and some clothes packed into a bag is organising a community event to enable people in Marlborough to get to know the refugees. 

Anastasia Beanatska, 34, escaped from the city of Rivne in western Ukraine with her daughter Nika, 12, and son Nikita, 20 months, in late February. 

They fled through Slovakia before being partnered with a UK host family in early April and coming to safety in this country. 

They are now living with financial planner Bill Colson, 67, and his wife Sue, also aged 67, in Downs Lane in Manton. 

“We have been in the UK for about two months,” said Anatasia, who left behind a flat in Rivne, her family, friends and business. 

In Ukraine, she ran a children’s nursery, after-school clubs, and organised outdoors events and activities for older children, including camping weekends 

“I had many interests in Ukraine, including dance and art studios, but we had to leave everything behind when the Russians invaded Ukraine. 

“We were really scared by the bombing. People are really scared that the war will come to Poland and Slovakia. 

“We didn’t understand what we must do. I just put some clothes into one bag to go away with my children. 

“I just want a home for my children. I am a mother now and I must think about my children and their safety. If I had not been single, I would have stayed in Ukraine to help.” 

Now Anastasia and her family have the chance to be safe for six months in Manton, where Nika has already started school at St John’s in Marlborough. 

Her host, Bill Colson, said: “Some of their problems have involved language barriers, with little access sometimes to English lessons, and they are having to pick it up as they go.” 

Anatasia was among a group of Ukrainian refugees who met Devizes MP Danny Kruger on Saturday (June 11) to tell him about the issues they face. 

Richard Ramsden was the organiser of the event and is also hosting a Ukrainian family. 

He said: “I’ve had various meetings where hosts and Ukrainians have got together, but we hadn't had a gathering before of that many people in one place. 

"The main objective was to get everyone together to talk about the issues they've encountered in getting settled since moving to the UK. 

"One of the biggest problems is where they will go after living with their current hosts which signed on to have them for a minimum of six months. 

To help locals understand more about their plight, Anastasia and other refugees are organising a community event at Kennett Village Hall on Sunday, July 17 from 4pm-7pm.