Local Village Group Treats Refugees to Trip

Ukrainian families who sought refuge in Cheshire after fleeing the war were recently treated to a day trip to a beloved Chester attraction.

A day at The Ice Cream Farm was hosted by the Marbury Belles. The local village group took 29 refugees from Ukraine to the farm.

The Marbury Belles had made it their mission to ensure the Ukrainian children enjoyed exciting new experiences during the summer holidays.

Group member, Kathy Johnson, commented that after seeing the events in Ukraine unfold, the Marbury Belles met to discuss how they could help families now in Cheshire. They began by fundraising through a village hall coffee morning and a jubilee party, raising £840 from the events combined. Further donations received from St. John’s Church and the Whitchurch Rotary Club took their total to more than £1,000.

Consulting with the Malpas Hub, which is a group of hosts for Ukrainian refugees, the Marbury Belles identified a need for school uniform funding, but concerns were also raised on how the children would stay occupied during the break.

The Marbury Belles decided they would organise trips for each week and The Ice Cream Farm was the first option on their list. The Tattenhall attraction generously offered the group a free day out for families.

The Ice Cream Farm CEO, Jonathan Fell, commented:

“The Ice Cream Farm is all about making memories as a family. We were delighted to give these children, their loved ones, and hosts an opportunity to do exactly that.”

The group attending The Ice Cream Farm included 18 children ranging in age from 3 to 14.