Friendships have been developing between the Ukrainian guests in Dawlish, Teignmouth and surrounding villages since May, (when our first guests arrived in the 2 towns)

Their host families, and community minded people wish to ensure Dawlish and Teignmouth are seen as welcoming and supportive communities.

Our key philosophies are togetherness, learning from each other, respect and showing human compassion.

As Jody Merelle, group co-ordinator, has told our guests: ‘If we British had to flee the UK and arrived in Ukraine, we know we would get exactly the same welcome from you.’

From the Tuesday night English lessons and social gathering in Dawlish, a suggestion was made that an arts and crafts club might be a good place for conversations to take place and long term friendships develop.

Jamie Redfern, Team Minister of Teignmouth Baptist Church, immediately offered the very suitable facility of the Baptist Church Hall from 4pm to 6pm every Sunday.

David Leyland offered to co-ordinate and contacted Teignmouth Arts Society (TAS).  Sarah Sagar, membership secretary of TAS, was keen to personally get involved in this community project and together with Teri Sutton they  found volunteer artists who are willing to give up their time and knowledge to lead a table.

On the initial ‘meet and greet’, around 30 British and Ukrainian people (aged from six to 86) mixed together and communicated via watercolours, pastels, collage, sewing, coil clay pots, mandala pebble painting, drawing and button-craft.

Jody Merelle, who writes for this newspaper on Positive Mental Health, reminded us of the many benefits of adults and children being able to spend two hours a week on an activity where they are able to focus on a task, not allowing their minds to wander to other issues.

The nine ‘table-leaders’ (five from the Arts Society, three from the Baptist Church and two from the Tuesday English Lessons group) thoroughly enjoyed the first get-together.

Tony Stokes declared: ‘In all my life, I never expected that I would be showing someone else how to paint in pastels’ (see the photo of Halyna and her seascape to view how two strangers could produce something so beautiful in two hours).

Lidya had not painted since she was aged 15 due to studies, work and childcare duties – but was able to produce a stunning watercolour of an apple, under the direction of Jenny.

Lizzie Chadwick, a member of the Baptist Church congregation, was able to help Olga produce a fantastic ‘eye pebble’ by passing on her knowledge of mandala art.

David Leyland reported: ‘I was amazed at the immediate impact of our initial get-together, with every table a buzz of creative conversation.

‘It was lovely to see those Ukrainian friends who are confident in English making sure that their friends with less English were settled on a particular table, before moving on to another table that interested them.

‘The impromptu singing of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” by a seven-year-old Ukrainian boy who was colouring an animal – and most of the room joining in with him, was a moment I will always treasure.

‘Community projects such as this start with small steps and we all see this as a long term way of cementing friendships and support networks, in addition to the weekly English lessons in Dawlish.’

Sessions will be held every Sunday from 4pm to 6pm at Teignmouth Baptist Church.

They are free and a warm welcome is extended to anyone who would like to attend. The club is a great way to meet new people, develop new skills and help our new Ukrainian guests feel that they are genuinely a part of our local community.

We look forward to seeing you there!