Posted on: Thursday 18 June 2026
This Loneliness Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the volunteers and community projects helping people feel connected, supported and less alone, strengthening wellbeing and community resilience across Torfaen, in line with the Torfaen Deal.
Five Ukrainian women living in Torfaen after fleeing the war in their homeland, have been helping to build closer ties with the community by sharing their homemade dishes.
Based at the Living Waters Centre in Pontypool, the Growing and Cooking Club supports displaced people living in the borough by improving access to food, reducing isolation, and bringing people together through shared experiences.
The project was set up by the Torfaen Food Partnership, in partnership with the council’s resettlement team and Hope for the Community.
The first session welcomed the Ukrainian women, who prepared traditional dishes such as Chicken Kiev and Ukrainian Pampushky - fried bread balls with garlic, that were shared with members of the local community.
Aside from cooking, the women shared stories behind the food, offering an insight into Ukrainian culture, traditions, and everyday life.
Alla Pylypenko, who arrived in Torfaen through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme in 2022, said: “Cooking together reminded us of home, and sharing our food with others made us feel very welcome. It was lovely to see people enjoying Ukrainian dishes and taking an interest in our culture.”
The Living Waters Centre, located on Osborne Road in Pontypool, also runs a community pantry and café every:
- Tuesday 10am - 1pm
- Wednesday 10am - 1pm
- Saturday 10am - 12pm
This week also marks Refugee Awareness Week, a time to recognise the strength and resilience of refugees and celebrate the contribution they make in the communities they settle in.
The Growing and Cooking Club initiative shows the Torfaen Deal in action - strengthening partnerships between the council, local organisations and residents to improve community wellbeing.