Tag: City of Sanctuary

On 3rd October Cllr Izzy Knowles, together with the Lib Dem group leader, Cllr Roger Harmer was proud to welcome a delegation of Ukrainians from eight Universities, including Birmingham’s twin city of Zaporizhizhia and from the Ukrainian Ministry of Education & Science to the Council House.

The delegates were hosted by Aston University as part of an Erasmus + MultiEd project, an EU programme to support education, training, youth and sport.

Marsela Hoxha from the Homes for Ukraine team at the council said in an internal council update:

‘Cllr Knowles’ ward, Moseley, is one of the wards with the highest numbers of Ukrainian guests being hosted in the city – and she was, herself, a host to a Ukrainian family. She has proactively maintained a close contact with our teams, and has contributed by providing feedback regarding delivery of services and needs identified from her various engagements with partners, hosts/guests and her constituents. This has helped us to continue to improve our services.

“Cllr Harmer was also involved with the Homes for Ukraine scrutiny panel earlier this year – and has since been following the development of the services/improvements on the areas identified.

“The delegation heard me (Marsela) and my team, about the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ project – and the solidarity and support given to Ukrainians fleeing the war. The delegates also heard the ‘lived experiences’ stories from Ukrainian guests, who currently live in Birmingham – and we all shared a deeper understanding of the situation facing people back in Ukraine: and their desire to keep education and learning at the centre of rebuilding Ukraine.

“Participants from Zaporizhzhia City brought a letter of appreciation from their Mayor for the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Chaman Lal, expressing their gratitude for the welcome and support provided by BCC and its partners to the Ukrainian guests. This was received gratefully by the two councillors present, on the Lord Mayor’s behalf.

“We all committed as organisations – and individuals – to continue to support the Ukrainians who are now part of our community of Birmingham; and to maintain communication, and strengthen our relationship, via future collaborations.”