Two inspiring projects celebrating the creativity and resilience of the Ukrainian community are being supported by Bath & North East Somerset Council, with a magical new children’s book and a growing community radio show now reaching families across the area.
Libraries across B&NES are now stocking Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths, a new children’s adventure novella published by the Friends of Oleksandriya. Written by Claire Bramwell-Pearson and illustrated by Ukrainian artist Alexandra Dikaia, the book was printed in Kyiv and featured at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival.
It follows Vitalii, a young footballer who escapes the war before stumbling across a legendary three-headed dragon hidden deep beneath the Roman Baths.
The book was officially launched at The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution on 8 November.
The council has also awarded £2,500 from its latest Ukraine Support Grant to The Ukrainian Hour, a weekly show on Somer Valley FM that gives Ukrainian refugees a platform to share stories, music and cultural insights. The funding will support media workshops, new content creation and advanced broadcast training for presenter Vira Niskoromnykh, who arrived in Bath after fleeing the invasion in 2022.
Councillor Kevin Guy, council Leader, said, “We are proud to continue supporting our Ukrainian friends in any way we can. Vira’s commitment to empowering the Ukrainian community, promoting integration, and amplifying diverse voices through local radio is exactly the kind of initiative we’re proud to support. We’re also delighted that visitors to our libraries will be able to immerse themselves in the tale of Vitalii, a story that reinforces Bath’s solidarity with Ukraine in an imaginative way.”
Zhenya Shkil, founder and trustee of The Friends of Oleksandriya, added, “What began two years ago as a small Ukrainian book project to help the children of Oleksandriya learn English has blossomed into something truly special. Today, this beautiful story Vitalii Petrenko and the Secret of the Roman Baths is inspiring kindness and friendship among children in both Ukraine and the UK. We are overjoyed that it will soon be available in local libraries, where it can continue to nurture compassion, understanding, and hope in future generations.”
Dom Chambers, Somer Valley FM’s founder and executive director, commented, “Vira Niskoromnykh, our Vira if you like, is an amazing person who has created a community through community radio. Not only does she give a voice and a welcome to those people displaced by war, but through an extraordinary diversity of content and conversations gives us all an understanding of the richness and beauty of Ukrainian culture.”
Find more details on this year’s Ukraine Support Fund funding decision on the council website at democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2287
