Higham and Novyi Bilous hold Virtual Meeting to Strengthen Community Ties

The recent virtual meeting between the Higham Parish Council and the Novyi Bilous Territorial Community marked a step forward to closer cooperation between the villages.

Higham (Kent UK) has been formally twinned with the  Novyi Bilous Territorial Community (Chernihiv Region, Ukraine) since 21st March 2025.

With Dmytro Fedorov, Head of Novyi Bilous community, and Councillor John Grey, Chairman of Higham Parish Council, leading the discussion, the meeting explored practical ways to deepen the partnership between the two communities and support each other’s development.

Building on Shared Goals

The meeting opened with an update from Mr Fedorov on the ongoing situation in Novyi Bilous, before turning to practical ways that the two communities could work together over coming months on shared goals.

Councillor John Grey highlighted how Higham recently commemorated the anniversary of the full-scale invasion with a special ceremony which involved the Flag of Ukraine being raised in Higham.

Both council leaders emphasised the importance of fostering stronger ties to improve outcomes for their respective communities and how videography could be used to help the citizens of each community learn more about each other.

Together with Iryna Martseva from the Chernihiv Regional State Administration, Higham Parish Councillor Liz Jeffery, Jordan Meade, and Iris Smith from Kent With Ukraine, the community heads discussed how collaboration could enhance local services, cultural exchanges, and educational opportunities.

Key points included:

• Community engagement: Encouraging residents to participate virtually in joint events and initiatives.

• Resource sharing: Exploring ways to share expertise, facilities, and information.

• Cultural understanding: Promoting awareness of each community’s traditions and history.

• School Twinning: Supporting the ongoing and strong relationship that has been established between Higham Primary School (Kent) and Staryi Bilous Lyceum (Chernihiv Region).

  
  

These goals reflect a commitment to creating a lasting connection that benefits both communities on mutual terms.

Looking Ahead

The virtual meeting ended with a strong sense of optimism. Dmytro Fedorov and John Grey committed to maintaining momentum and involving more community members and organisations in future discussions. Higham is soon to hold a Quiz Night to fundraise for Novyi Bilous. Both Councils also plan to evaluate the impact of their initiatives regularly to ensure that this relationship delivers.

This partnership sets a fine example of how village councils can work together effectively, even across distances, to strengthen their communities and show solidarity.