KENT WITH UKRAINE
Documenting the indomitable friendship between the County of Kent and Ukraine
Novyi Bilous and Higham
Supporting Councils
IN A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY AND FRIENDSHIP THE VILLAGE OF HIGHAM HAS TWINNED WITH NOVYI BILOUS IN UKRAINE
HIGHAM, KENT, Friday 21st March 2025 - Following Cllr Jordan Meade's humanitarian missions deep into and across Ukraine, Jordan approached Higham Parish Councillors to see if they would be interested in Twinning Higham with a Ukrainian village in the Chernihiv Region of Ukraine, to which Kent formally entered into regional partnership with back in July 2024. After discussions at several meetings, Parish Councillors in Higham unanimously voted to twin Higham with Novyi Bilous in northern Ukraine.
Councillor John Gray, Chairman of Higham Parish Council said:
'I was honoured this morning to sign a twinning agreement on behalf of Higham with Novyi Bilous . Since the start of the illegal full-scale invasion, the people of Higham have stood behind Ukraine and now we will continue this support through our new friendship. Higham Parish Council will be working alongside our churches, schools and community groups to ensure that this truly special friendship endures.'
Councillor, Jordan Meade, said:
‘This morning it was an honour to support Higham Parish Council 2024 in their twinning with the Novyi Bilous Community in Chernihiv Ukraine. I’m thrilled that Higham and Novyi Bilous have today decided to enter into a formal twinning agreement. When I visited the villages of Novyi Bilous earlier this year, I was struck by the similarities between our villages and the pride that they have for their education and heritage. We stand with the people of Ukraine, in a united friendship and I look forward to supporting both communities develop this new friendship as part of our ongoing commitment to the wider Chernihiv region'
It is hoped that the twinning agreement signed this morning, will pave the way for cultural exchanges, educational initiatives, and community-led projects aimed at supporting Novyi Bilous' recovery and resilience efforts. Over the past year, Parish Councillor Rosemary Dymond, who visited Ukraine back in 2024 as part of a humanitarian aid run, has been helping to coordinate activities in Cobham to support Ukraine,
