26 Apr FEMALE KICKS GROUP TAKE PART IN HUDDERSFIELD UKRAINIAN CLUB WORKSHOP
On Thursday 14 April the Huddersfield Town Foundation was honoured to be visited by two leading members of Huddersfield’s Ukrainian community.
Michael and Anna Drapan very kindly gave a presentation to the Foundation’s Premier League Kicks Women and Girls participants at Leeds Road Sports Complex.
Covering the history of Ukrainian settlement in Huddersfield since the Second World War, the participants were fascinated to learn about the cultural development over the past years.
The Huddersfield Ukrainian Club was initially formed in 1948 and met at St. Joseph’s Church in Aspley.
The group continued to grow and was eventually able to purchase its first building on Trinity Street in 1955 before moving to their current premises, a Victorian mansion on Edgerton Road, in 1965.
Michael and Anna also spoke briefly to the group, aged between 14 and 16, about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
On his experience, Michael said:
“It was gratifying to be able to spend some time with the girls and staff at the Huddersfield Town Foundation and to explain the background history of how Ukrainians settled in Huddersfield from 1948.
“Hopefully, the receptive audience will now have a better understanding of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and the hardships that millions of displaced Ukrainians are currently living through.
“Well done to the girls for the interest they showed and to the Foundation staff for giving them the opportunity to learn about a world-shattering, topical event that has repercussions for people across the globe.”
Foundation staff donated Amnesty International UK T-shirts to Michael and Anna to demonstrate and reinforce the welcoming environment football can create, helping refugees and people seeking asylum develop a sense of belonging as they settle into new communities.
These T-shirts were kindly provided during Football Welcomes Month by the charity, which is working hard to give protection without discrimination to those affected by events in Ukraine.
If you would like to learn more about the Huddersfield Ukrainian Club, please CLICK HERE.
The Town Foundation delivers the PL Kicks programme, which blends football with educational workshops, throughout the week.
Sessions take place at numerous venues across Kirklees, including Leeds Road Sports Complex and St John Fisher Academy in Dewsbury and are all free to attend for young people aged between 8 and 18.
To request a full timetable, please contact the Foundation on 01484 503773, or email help@htafcfoundation.com.