After visiting a local group of Ukrainian refugees in St Philip’s Church in Dorridge last summer, Saqib was delighted to extend an invitation to the group to visit Parliament.
As such, Saqib was proud to see nearly 60 Ukrainian refugees from the Meriden constituency accept his invitation to visit Parliament and Downing Street. Thanks to the generosity of National Express, travel to and from London was provided for all members of the group.
The group of Ukrainian refugees is comprised of both adults and children from the local area, with the trip to London organised through a collaboration between Saqib Bhatti’s team, National Express, and community organiser Kathleen O'Hara.
Speaking on the group’s visit to Parliament:
“We are now a year on from Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine. I can only begin to imagine how difficult this year has been for those in and from Ukraine that have had their lives turned upside down overnight, with homes destroyed, families separated, and worse.”
“It is from the shadows of this horror that I am proud of just how well my constituents across Meriden have stepped up and welcomed Ukrainian refugees with open arms. It is on their behalf that I invited the group to Parliament and visit Downing Street. To show them, that, from the local community up to the heart of our democracy, we stand with them.”
“I want to thank National Express for their extreme generosity in providing free coach travel for the group to and from London, making sure everyone could visit. I also want to thank Kathleen O'Hara, a local community volunteer that has helped the group over the past year.”
“My hope is that, once the fighting ends, once families are reunited, homes rebuilt, that those who return are able to look back at the friendship and warmth of St Philip’s Church and the wider community.”
