Cultural society. “Committee of the Year 2024” and "Best Small Society 2025" at UWE’s Annual Society Awards.
Welcome to the Ukrainian society at UWE Bristol! 🎊 Whether you're Ukrainian by birth, by heart, or just really love varenyky, we're the crew for you! We were established in January 2024 to create a "family", where we celebrate our culture, traditions and surprise with our legendary hospitality! Moreover, you will not believe how much is going on with us EVERY SINGLE WEEK!!
In Autumn 2024, UWE and UoB Ukrainian Societies had the honour of co-hosting the Annual Ukrainian Summit in partnership with the Ukrainian Students’ Union (USU) and the University of Bristol. Nearly 100 Ukrainian students from across the UK – including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Nottingham and more – joined us for this two-day event. The first day focused on socialising, featuring a city tour and an energetic club night, while the second day offered an educational programme with distinguished speakers such as Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Andrii Zayats, Head of the Liaison Office of the European Council in the EU, Artem Shevalev, Director at the EBRD, and Volodymyr Sterenchuk, CEO of Nova Post UK. This event was a milestone for our society, showcasing the dedication and hard work of our team, and remains one of our proudest achievements.
In Spring 2025, our society organised two unforgettable trips. In Oxford, we toured the university’s historic libraries (famously featured in the Harry Potter films), enjoyed a city walk with the Oxford Ukrainian Society, and wrapped up with a lively social at Oxford Brookes – complete with Ukrainian quizzes, memes, pizza, and debates. Our Cardiff trip, run in collaboration with Bristol and Cardiff Ukrainian Societies, included a behind-the-scenes visit to the BBC Office and ended with a fun social of beer pong and fundraising for a Ukrainian charity.
Ukrainian culture is impossible to imagine without its delicious cuisine, so cooking events quickly became one of our favourite ways to celebrate together. Over the past year, we’ve made everything – from varenyky and borsch for Christmas to paskas and a full festive table for Easter. Honestly, every holiday with us feels like spending the weekend at grandma’s house in a Ukrainian village. These gatherings are always warm, tasty, and full of laughter – and we can’t wait to roll up our sleeves for more cooking days this year!
Drumroll, please… our brand-new merch has landed! ✨ After two months of designing, sketching, and perfecting every detail, we’re finally ready to show you what might just be the coolest uni merch you’ll ever own. On the front – our iconic logo, bold and proud. On the back – a powerful design featuring the quote “Those Who Have Wings Do Not Need The Ground” from Lina Kostenko’s poem Wings 1930. This isn’t just a T-shirt, it’s a statement: a reminder that true freedom lies not in material things, but in our dreams, dignity, creativity, and love. It’s a design infused with the very spirit of Ukraine, created with so much love that you’ll feel it the moment you put it on. This merch is for all of you chasing your own wings of freedom – so get ready, because once it drops, you’ll definitely want to grab yours before it flies away! 🕊️💙💛
One of our closest friends is the University of Bristol Ukrainian Society, with whom we’ve built a truly special partnership. Together we’ve organised countless collaborations, from the Annual Ukrainian Summit to our Easter 2025 celebration, often bringing in other West Country societies to make the events even bigger and brighter. This friendship has been such a fun and rewarding journey, and we can’t wait to see what amazing projects and celebrations the next year will bring!
In May 2024, our society proudly became an official member of the Ukrainian Students’ Union – a network uniting over 40 Ukrainian societies across the UK. This partnership has opened the door to strong connections with fellow students nationwide and has been key in helping us organise large-scale events, secure donations, and meet inspiring new people. Being part of the USU means we’re not just a society in Bristol – we’re part of a much bigger family, and we’re excited to keep growing together.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uweukrsoc?igsh=N2R2bnI0djAwM3Fy
Telegram Group Chat: https://t.me/+GT0xYSGetd00Y2Qy
Society Email: ukrainiansocietyuwe@gmail.com