Weʼre raising £30,000 to help ‘Tarasivka’ with its upkeep & financial burdens due to COVID-19

The Ukrainian Youth Association of Great Britain needs your support to raise funds for Tarasivka.

Tarasivka is a piece of Ukraine in the heart of England. The 36 acre grassland site is a former military camp located in Weston-on-Trent, Derbyshire, and was acquired by the Ukrainian Youth Association in 1964. Since then, Tarasivka has been central in hosting many Ukrainian cultural, social and sporting events, as well as annual Summer Camps for 3-17 year old children. These Camps are unique: they combine the immense fun of living in tents and barracks with a variety of recreational and sporting activities as well as the all-important educational element which adds to their life skills and patriotic upbringing. For decades children of the Diaspora have learnt about Ukrainian culture, heritage, history, contemporary political and social issues in Ukraine by attending these summer camps. Huge numbers of friends-for-life have been made in this central community hub and many families are now counting their fourth generation of members.

As a non-profit organisation, we hire out the grounds and facilities to various local and regional clubs and organisations (scouts, caravan clubs, charitable fun runs and various rallies etc), which generates essential income and subsequently supports the upkeep and maintenance of the site and facilities (including payment of utility bills and council tax). We have been steadily improving the site and facilities since 2015 by fundraising amongst the Ukrainian community and beyond, and also encouraging our adult members to volunteer their time in the general upkeep of the grounds and buildings.

Our project plan, before the Covid-19 Pandemic was to renovate and refurbish the main community hall and carry out some essential maintenance on other buildings, as well as raise funds to purchase necessary furniture and equipment in time for the 2020 season. Unfortunately, lockdown and adherence to Government guidelines has led to the cancellation of all events and hiring of Tarasivka for 2020 and resulting in Tarasivka suffering from a significant loss of income until late spring 2021 at the earliest. This is a severe blow for our community and to Tarasivka.

Despite lockdown, local adult volunteers have carried some renovation work to the main community hall (capacity of 350 people, licensed bar, catering facilities and a stage) but unfortunately this has now come to standstill and uncompleted. Work to improve other on-site facilities and to refurbish is also now on hold indefinitely unless funds can be raised.

A total of £30,000 is needed to complete the main community hall, purchase the new furniture, 40 new beds and mattresses in the children’s barracks, and new windows for the parent and toddler dormitory.

Completing the renovation and refurbishment during this time of crisis will allow us to increase our potential to generate income in the future once we are able to open our gates, and offer a better maintained and improved facility for our members and the local community and organisations. Doing so will also create a more sustainable future for Tarasivka to continue serving as a central location for Ukrainians in Great Britain.

Please support us. All donations will be gratefully received.