Music for Peace and Connecting Community
12 May 2024
On 11 May, we had a delightful afternoon of music and peace in the Parish Rooms, St. Mary's Northchurch. We talked about peace and what it means in our everyday lives; what peace feels like and what it sounds like. There was a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, making everyone feel connected and emotionally engaged.
However, the real highlight of this event was, of course, the music, skilfully reinterpreted in a contemporary context by the talented composer and pianist Yaroslav Oliinyk. He demonstrated that music is more than just sound waves, inviting the audience to experience music immersively, on an entirely new level.
This event was a wonderful display of community spirit, generosity, and deeper human connections. All the funds raised at this concert will go into services that help displaced children and young adults nurture their talents and creativity. Thank you to all who helped make this event happen!
What does Peace Feel Like?
24 April 2024
This book is a collection of children’s ideas about peace, describing what peace is in our everyday lives; what peace feels like, what it sounds like, what it smells like, what it tastes like, and what it looks like. We asked Ukrainian children, displaced from their homes due to the war in their country, to share what they think of peace, and here is what they said.
Request the book using the below form:
An evening of craft and English learning
15 February 2024, Open Door: Community Café and Arts Space
We had a great evening of Valentine’s Day arts and crafts at the Open Door venue on Berkhamsted High Street, enjoying creative activities in a very inclusive atmosphere. It was an absolute delight to watch the children engage in beautiful interactions and thoroughly enjoy the experience.
Tetiana, parent:
"Thank you very much for leading an entertaining event for our families. My daughters had so much fun, learning new skills together, and brushed up on their English too. The children enjoyed the workshop greatly, whereas the parents enjoyed socialising".
Music brings people together
20 January 2024, St. Mary's Northchurch
The Concert for a Better Future, that took place at St Mary’s Northchurch on 20 January 2024, brought talented artists and members of the community together to celebrate the power of music to change our lives for the better.
The concert programme featured a selection of beautiful music from various genres and cultures, including works by Ukrainian composers. It was a wonderful afternoon and a great opportunity to promote diversity, foster respect and open-mindedness for other cultures, and spread the idea of peace through music.
Lynne, attendee:
"A huge thank you to you, your team of helpers and the performers who gave so much of themselves in sharing their skill so beautifully. It was heartwarming, uplifting and transcendent [...] the event was so thoughtfully planned to help us feel we have shared something special and meaningful together".
Ukrainian evening
17 June 2023, Parish Rooms, St. Mary's Northchurch
This event brought members of the local community together to enjoy Ukrainian cuisine and learn more about Ukrainian culture and traditions.
Valerie, attendee:
'Right from the moment I walked in the door, I felt there was such a lovely atmosphere of welcome and friendliness. Everyone who 'took the stage' played their parts so well and your audience learned a lot about your country that we didn't know before. The catering was fantastic!! Delicious. Varied. Tempting. Even curious - I found it was worth trying everything'.
ESOL and creative activities for children in Northchurch
October 2022-March 2023
This project has only been possible due to the support of St. Mary's Northchurch. Thank you for providing a warm and safe space at the Parish Rooms for Ukrainian children so that they can learn English and engage in creative activities.
By encouraging children to work together on art projects, we aimed to facilitate greater understanding and engagement, providing children with a rich context to help them grow their English vocabulary range.
