'We are not here to take, we are here to give' – how Ukrainian families in Caerphilly feel ahead of crucial Senedd by-election

THE SENEDD by-election in Caerphilly is less than a week away and promises to be one of the most decisive and revealing by-elections to have taken place in Wales.

- STEPHANIE COLDERICK

As Reform and Plaid Cymru battle it out as current poll leaders, both standing on opposite sides of the political spectrum, one community is keen to stress a clear message: “We are not here to take, we are here to give.”

These are the words of the Ukrainian community in Caerphilly who are determined to push back on any rhetoric that the Nation of Sanctuary is a negative policy.

Yesterday, the Ukrainian community organised the planting of bluebells and daffodils, symbols of hope, peace and unity, with local school children from Plas-Y-Felin and members of the Ukrainian community.

They came to share their stories, and to thank the local community. Yuliia Bond was one of them.

She came to Caerphilly, from Ukraine, in 2022 with her two children and remembers how when she first arrived there were Ukrainian flags everywhere and everyone was very welcoming.

Now, she says the attitude from some people is different and says the rhetoric against the Nation of Sanctuary is “false and misleading.”

“We felt welcome when we came and there were flags everywhere,” she reminisces. “Now we are told, by pretty much the same people, that you should leave, you should go back. We are not here to take. We are here to give. We are here to contribute.

“You don’t see many Ukrainians here today because everyone will be in work. Most of us work, we pay taxes, we shouldn't be treated as a burden. We are people who you see at schools when you collect children, people who you see in shops, people who you see on the street, your neighbours.

“We shouldn't be portrayed as a burden. There is so much disinformation, there is so much negative rhetoric and none of it is true.”

Yuliia explained how she believes that not many voters actually know what the Nation of Sanctuary - which only uses 0.05% of the Welsh Government's £29bn-a-year budget - is and how it helps people like her settle here so they are able to contribute to society.