UKRANIAN refugees who settled in West Dunbartonshire after being forced to flee their homes due to war have told of their mission to help give back to the communities who have helped them.

Lilia Nevolina and Iryna Spivak travelled with their families to Scotland last year after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

Both women received support from local charity Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (OKFP) shortly after arriving in the area.

Now Lilia and Iryna volunteer at the food bank in an effort to support people who are in need.

Lilia said: “For me, volunteering is about help. I feel like we need to help other people.

"Not only that but we can chat and engage with local people which is very important for us.

“It’s also fun and sometimes it helps us forget about the bad things and our problems.

"Here we smile.”

Iryna lives with her family in Clydebank and has been taking art classes since moving to Scotland.

She revealed that she has been working to develop her English skills through volunteering at OKFP.

Iryna added: “It’s for communication and meeting new people. Here we are able to help each other out.

“Scottish people are very smiley, they are happy all the time. I go to a painting class here [OKFP’s hub] and it’s very relaxing for me.

“We paint, chat, and can improve our English skills which is very important for us.”

Lilia explained that the weekly meet-ups in Old Kilpatrick are very important for those who have been displaced by the war in Ukraine.

She stressed the importance of these support groups in smaller towns and villages.

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter: Members of the local support group in Old Kilpatrick attending a Mother's Day eventMembers of the local support group in Old Kilpatrick attending a Mother's Day event (Image: Maureen Cummings)

Lilia said: “We are not far from Glasgow. A lot of Ukrainians meet in Glasgow but in small villages and towns, there aren’t so many Ukrainian communities.

“So we have started one. We volunteer here depending on when there are deliveries.

"Maureen will text me to say ‘we need help’ and I will come along and help out.

“We really appreciate Scotland and its people and all that they have done for us. It’s our home now.”

Despite their love for Scotland both women are understandably missing home.

Iryna explained that she hopes to return to Ukraine as soon as she is able to.

She added: “Everything has changed for us in the last year, hopefully when we can we will get back to Ukraine.”

Lilia and Iryna alongside a number of other Ukrainian women living in West Dunbartonshire recently attended a Mother's Day event at OKFP. 

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter: Representatives from Low Moss Prison present the women with hand-made match stick boxes for Mother's DayRepresentatives from Low Moss Prison present the women with hand-made match stick boxes for Mother's Day (Image: Maureen Cummings)

Each of the women were gifted hand-made match stick boxes which were specially made for them by prisoners at Low Moss Prison.

These were presented to them by representatives from the prison.