Homes for Ukraine interview - Video and audio transcripts

11 months ago I think as many people in the UK, we were shocked by the

images coming out of Poland and Ukraine train stations, shops, all those

sort of things. We had a spare room, and we just thought it's one small thing. My wife and

I discussed it. We didn't know the process, didn't

know how it would work but we wanted to do something. The process at that time

was a lot different compared to what it is now, I think. The process was very

immature, but you know, we researched it on our own, went on the websites from the

government and most of the information, actually, we found online and then we put

out an advertisement twice through Facebook. What we were looking for, my

wife and I, was actually to be able to specifically, probably help a mother and

a young child, a baby, and then we put the advertisements out.

We have lived with Jamie and Rachel for 11 months, and met their

family members. They gave us lots of support, care and

happiness. In this difficult time, they opened their

door and their hearts to us. We think of them as family now.

That's one of the main things, right, it's being part of our home and our family

and we have our own lives, but you know, we come together,

we cook together, we eat together, usually five days a week we eat together

and it's Irina cooks and introduces us to Ukrainian food

and vice versa so it's been it's a great experience for

both of us. We are immensely grateful to

Jamie and Rachel and their lovely, special family for their friendship.