Ukrainian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Ukraine is the largest country entirely in Europe, with fertile farmland, the Carpathian Mountains and Kyiv as its capital. A Ukrainian community has lived in the Midlands since the end of the Second World War. Since 2022, many more families have come to Britain, welcomed by hosts across Birmingham.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 138 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Ukrainian; and 78 residents gave Ukrainian as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still. These figures date from before February 2022. Since then many Ukrainian families have come to Birmingham through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, so the community is now much larger.

Working for Birmingham

Ukrainian residents work in healthcare, education, IT, engineering, hospitality, construction and care, and many are retraining to have their qualifications recognised. Ukrainian teachers, doctors, accountants and software developers are rebuilding careers, and Ukrainian children are thriving in the city's schools.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Ukrainian community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Borscht, the beetroot soup recognised by UNESCO, and varenyky dumplings are national favourites. Vyshyvanka, embroidered shirts, are worn with pride, and pysanky, decorated Easter eggs, are a treasured art. Christmas and Easter are the most important family festivals.

Like so many of the communities that make up modern Birmingham, the Ukrainian community shows how a city can be home to many cultures at once. Its members are proud of where they come from, and just as proud to be Brummies.