Wellbeing Workshops for Women of Ukraine: 2025
From April to August 2025, Harmony in Health delivered a programme of wellbeing and psychological support for Ukrainian women who have resettled in the UK after being displaced by the war in Ukraine. The project was generously supported by The National Lottery Awards for All Community Fund.
About the programme
The programme was designed to respond to the growing emotional, psychological and social needs of Ukrainian women living in the UK, many of whom face ongoing trauma, isolation, language barriers and difficulty accessing appropriate support.
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Over a 12âweek period we delivered:
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Five multidisciplinary wellbeing workshops, combining embodied movement, relaxation, rhythm and song, nutrition, and gentle handsâon work to support nervous system regulation.
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Ten Ukrainianâlanguage psychological support group sessions, led by a qualified Ukrainianâspeaking psychologist.
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A community celebration event, bringing together Ukrainian women, their families and members of the wider local community through food, music and shared activities.
Participants ranged in age from 20 to 60, helping to foster intergenerational connection and peer support.
What difference did it make?
Feedback was gathered throughout the programme and shows a clear and positive impact:
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Participants’ average selfâreported mood increased from 5/10 before workshops to 8.8/10 afterwards.
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83% of participants reported gaining new knowledge and practical tools to support their wellbeing.
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Psychological support sessions were rated 4.87 out of 5, with 100% of participants wanting the groups to continue.
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Women reported feeling less isolated, more emotionally balanced, and better able to cope with stress and uncertainty.
One participant shared:
“This programme created a safe, empowering space for Ukrainian women to heal, connect
and rebuild resilience.”
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Why this approach matters
A key strength of the programme was its culturally grounded, traumaâinformed design:
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Sessions were delivered in participants’ native language, creating trust and emotional safety.
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The combination of psychological support and embodied wellbeing practices helped address both immediate stress and longerâterm resilience.
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Providing childcare at some sessions enabled more women to attend.
The programme also helped build community cohesion, culminating in a celebration event described by participants as “joyful”, “inspiring” and “deeply affirming of Ukrainian culture and identity”.
Learning and future needs
The project highlighted a strong and growing need for ongoing, preventative support:
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Demand exceeded capacity, with some women unable to join due to limited places.
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Outreach through trusted community contacts is essential, particularly for newly arrived women.
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Women expressed a clear need for continued guidance in navigating UK health and support systems.
These lessons will directly inform the design of future Harmony in Health programmes.
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Acknowledgements
Harmony in Health is extremely grateful to:
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The National Lottery Awards for All Community Fund for making this work possible.
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Olena Tertyshnyk (Life Ahead) for leading the psychological support groups.
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Community partners including Gail’s Bakeries for their support.
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The Friends Meeting House, Hammersmith for their generous support in the use of their facilities.
We are currently crowdfunding for a new project in Hammersmith and Fulham. Go to www.spacehive.com/harmonyinhealth for details.
If you would like to support or partner with Harmony in Health, or to learn more about our community wellbeing programmes, please contact us.
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