Orkney’s Gill and Mark Tennant - opening their home and hearts to refugees

An Orkney couple are opening their home and hearts to Ukrainian refugees.

Gill and Mark Tennant, who live in the West Mainland, have offered two bedrooms within their home to those fleeing the conflict.

They have also been in touch with Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO) to offer volunteering support in whatever way may be required.

Gill has a personal family connection to Ukraine and after witnessing and reading of the horrors unfolding, the retired couple felt compelled to help.

“It is just horrific, and we simply cannot imagine what these people are going through. They must be traumatised. I began thinking what could we do to help. We have two small bedrooms that we do not use so we have offered those through one of the Government schemes and been in touch with the Council.

“We had a young lady from Italy staying with us in the past and it was a wonderful experience. She told us ours was the first place she had stayed where she felt like a member of the family – this is something we hope to emulate once more.

“I do speak some German, a little French and Dutch and we have a friend, our builder, who is Polish and understands some Russian, has offered to help if he can so we hope to be able to open the lines of communication if they do not speak any English.”

Volunteering is not new to the couple, and with Gill’s music teaching background, they have much to offer.

Gill was recently involved in spearheading an online music event, entitled Ukrainian National Anthem Project, which saw cellists from around the world performing the Ukrainian national anthem in a new arrangement created by Gill for all levels.

Over 225 cellists from around the world responded including professional cellist and volunteer aid worker, Vladyslav Primakov from Kyiv, who has become a friend to Gill.

“Music is so important and is a different language in itself.

“Music is everywhere in Orkney and that is partly to do with the Council being one of the few to still offer free music tuition. I also hope to be able to provide volunteer support musically to any refugees who would wish that.”

They are hopeful that those refugees heading to Orkney will receive a warm welcome.

“We have lived in England and Wales, and we would say that of all the communities we have lived in, Orkney is the most welcoming.”