Hand-drawn ABC pictures to help Ukrainian children learning English are going up in B&NES libraries, including Midsomer Norton.

They have been created by the former Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Annie Maw who is a trustee of Somerset Supports Ukraine which brings local organisations, involved in supporting Ukrainian refugees, together.

The ABC pictures are going up in the children’s section of Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton Libraries.

Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Communities (pictured), said: “Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine almost twelve months ago, Bath and North East Somerset has welcomed more than four hundred Ukrainian refugees.

“Communities have pulled together to provide homes and support, as well as fundraising and these pictures are a lovely way of reminding Ukrainian families, who use our libraries of our support for them. They are a friendly touch set against the backdrop of wide-ranging support that continues to be provided by the council under the Homes for Ukraine programme, as well as work by organisations including Somerset Supports Ukraine, Bath Welcomes Refugees and more recently Bath’s Friends of Oleksandriya Group.”

As part of local support for Ukrainian families Midsomer Norton Library is running a Storytime with Ukrainian translation on February 16 from 11.30am-12.30pm. No booking is needed for the session which is aimed at 0-6-years-old but older siblings are welcome. Bath Welcomes Refugees conversation club and English support group also runs every Thursday from 10-11.30am. The sessions are drop in and anyone is welcome.

The Friends of Oleksandriya Group is holding a fundraising ‘Concert of Warmth and Light for Ukraine at Bath Abbey on 24th February at 7pm. To find out more about the event go to the Friends of Oleksandriya group

And if you want to offer a home to people fleeing Ukraine, you can find out about becoming a sponsor as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme