The new Ukraine Community Centre in Ayr has officially opened in a sparkling ceremony attended by one of the country's top diplomats.

Mr Yevhen Mankovskyi, vice-consul at the Ukrainian Consulate in Edinburgh, opened the premises in Newmarket Street on Friday night.

The Ukrainian Community Group (UCG), a charity formed in Ayr, were responsible for raising the money to take a long term rent on the premises.

There are approximately 375 Ukrainian refugees living in South Ayrshire and centre membership is open to them all.

The centre will offer peer support, information sessions, a community kitchen and much more to the region's sizeable Ukrainian community.

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Phil White, chairman of the Ukrainian Community Group, said “Our small committee, with a majority of Ukrainian members, have set a great standard for other communities looking to support families against a tragic background of war in their home country.

"They have organised fund raising events and been supported by a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund.

"This has allowed us to get the centre ready for use by all the families.

“We are delighted that Mr Mankovskyi is formally opening the centre and hearing the stories of our Ukrainian community living in Ayrshire.

"Ukrainian children who arrived in Scotland as three-year-olds are now attending school, with fading cultural memories of Ukraine.

"The centre can be a place of learning for the children who will be returning to a post war Ukraine.”

Those attending the opening watched a powerful short film, Shadows, which documents the horrific reality of Ukrainian children stolen by Russia.

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Highly respected young pianist Valentyn Ovcharenko played for the invited guests, and a Ukrainian singing group performed the national anthem.

The ongoing running and development of the centre will provide a safe and welcoming venue which is now available seven days per week for Ukrainian refugees to use.

The activities will ensure that those living in the area have a safe and welcoming space to meet others who have been through similar trauma, and to maintain connections and form new relationships.

It's hoped the facility will also pave the way for cross-cultural input to help the members of the group integrate with the local population.

A spokesperson for the project added: "Many people were initially housed in welcome accommodation (hotels) when they arrived in South Ayrshire. There they had a natural support network through living in the same place as other refugees.

"Since moving into their own tenancies we have become more and more aware of people becoming socially isolated and how this, along with the other trauma they have experienced, is having an adverse impact on their mental health and wellbeing."

For further information about the group, email Ucg.southayrshire@gmail.com.