Ukrainian MP Nataliya Pipa Given Tour of Putney
Representative for Lviv is parliamentary twin of Fleur Anderson
Nataliya Pipa (centre) gives the V for victory sign during her recent visit
March 22, 2024
A member of the Ukrainian parliament was in Putney this week in her capacity as the ‘twin’ of Fleur Anderson.
Nataliya Pipa is People's Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada for the 115th constituency, Sykhiv district, part of Lychakiv district of Lviv. She was in the UK as part of an initiative set up between the UK and Ukrainian parliaments in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Putney’s MP is one of only six in the House of Commons who has been twinned with a Ukrainian counterpart as a show solidarity for Ukraine during Putin’s war.
Ms Anderson first showed Nataliya Pipa around Westminster, visiting the House of Commons Chamber as she spoke in the debate Saint Patrick’s Day in her role as Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland.
The group then visited to Southfields Academy to discuss curriculum, professional development, and anti-bullying strategy. There was a tour of the school and chance to meet Ukrainian students, before a visit to Gardens Nursery to tour their centre, discuss early years provision and mark the start of Red Nose Day 2024.
Next up was South Thames College to discuss post-16 education and vocational training, before meeting with Medical Life Lines Ukraine, where they met with Jonathan Calloway, Gerry Strahan, Dan Whitehead and Aliya Aralbayeva. Medical Life Lines Ukraine send aid and volunteers driving ambulances full of aid into Ukraine.
The group were then received at Wandsworth Town Hall to meet Council Leader Simon Hogg, Cllr Juliana Annan, Mayor of Wandsworth, the Cabinet of Wandsworth Council and representatives from the Ukrainian community. They also met with Nicola Grant from Positively Putney, to talk about possible business links between Putney and Lviv.
The final stop on the local tour was The Scrubbery at Oasis Academy, where volunteers have been producing supplies to send to Nicholas Hospital and the Unbroken Ward in Ukraine. At The Scrubbery, the group met founder Rosie Taylor-Davies, to discuss the groups start in producing scrubs for frontline workers during the pandemic.
Ms Anderson MP said, “I joined the Ukrainian twinning scheme for lots of reasons. Putney really cares about Ukraine – the borough of Wandsworth has taken in the second highest number of Ukrainian refugees of all London boroughs. From The Scrubbery, which makes medical scrubs to sent to Ukraine, to Medical Life Lines Ukraine, which drives ambulances full of medicine and aid into Ukraine, Nataliya’s visit coincided with Wandsworth’s Labour-led Council announcing that they are increasing housing support for Ukrainian refugees.
“I am extremely proud of the support we have shown locally, both to the refugees we have welcomed to Putney and also the impact we have made in supporting those living through the war in Ukraine. I visited Ukraine last year and was honoured to meet with President Zelensky. The tour with Nataliya Pipa was an opportunity to show our ongoing solidarity with political leaders in Ukraine, learn from each other, and show Nataliya some of the immense support for Ukrainians living in Putney.
“What really brought home the reality of the horror of the war to me was that whilst we were on our tour, Nataliya’s alarm was going off. This tells her that bombing is happening in Lviv. She told me that each morning, she sends her children off to school with a bag for their lunch, and another bag in case they have to go down into the bomb shelter. It is horrifying to imagine. We must not forget the terrifying reality of what people in Ukraine have lived through for over 2 years.”
Kemi Akinola, Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, Business Engagement and Culture, said, "We have seen incredible support for Ukrainian refugees from the people of Wandsworth and we are reaffirming our commitment to making this a fairer and more compassionate borough through the expansion of this scheme. We are a diverse, vibrant, compassionate and welcoming borough - fully committed to becoming a Borough of Sanctuary for those fleeing wars and repression around the world."
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