MORE than 70kg of waste was cleared from Sefton Park after Ukrainian community members and local volunteers came together for a major clean-up last Sunday, 29 March 2026, as part of the Europe-wide campaign "Cleaning Up Our European Home".

The event was co-organized by the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain and KRYLA Culture Community and Art Organisation. On the Ukrainian side, the project is implemented by Strichka — a civic platform and app for active Ukrainians abroad — with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The partner of the event was Friends of Sefton Park.

Around 20 participants cleaned the central area of the park around the Eros Fountain, collecting 16 bags of waste. During the activity, waste was also sorted, and 4 flower beds were planted with flowers in the yellow and blue colours of the Ukrainian flag — marigolds and cinerarias. This color composition became a symbol of the Ukrainian community’s presence and its contribution to the city’s development.

KRYLA Culture Community and Art Organisation co-founder Yuliia Ivanova, said:- “Such initiatives continue the Ukrainian cultural tradition of coming together, acting collectively, and improving the surrounding environment through simple actions. They strengthen the community, build a culture of mutual support, and demonstrate Ukrainian values in the international context."

According to Deputy Head of the Liverpool branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Liudmyla Serhiienko, the clean-up demonstrated the strength of the Ukrainian community — its ability to unite around a common goal, support one another, and create positive change together.

After the work was completed, participants gathered for informal communication at a park café.

Maksym Cofie-Squire, an activist of the Ukrainian community in Liverpool, said:- “I was extremely pleased to experience 1 of the traditions of Ukrainian culture — a toloka — which brought us together in Liverpool. Despite the bad weather, many Ukrainians gathered, and the shared work helped us get to know each other better and feel the strength and unity of our community.”

The event became a platform for new connections, interaction between communities, and strengthening of the local community.

“Cleaning Up Our European Home” is a large-scale campaign that unites Ukrainians in ten European countries:- Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Estonia, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Cyprus. 

Since November 2025, displaced Ukrainians have been cleaning parks, alleys, streets, and waterfronts to thank the countries that sheltered them during the most difficult period of their lives. Through these actions, they demonstrate their readiness to work for a clean and prosperous future for all of Europe.

Strichka is a civic initiative and coordination app for active Ukrainians abroad. Since 2024, the platform has cooperated with 65 partner organizations worldwide and has already implemented more than 20 large global campaigns in support of Ukraine. Through the app, users can complete tasks that benefit Ukraine, earn points, and exchange them for military souvenirs, psychological consultations, books, and other useful items.

This material was compiled with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. The content of this publication is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Renaissance Foundation.