In the UK diaspora, the post WWII wave of Ukrainians have organised their communities around a cultural centre. This building is a space for all community organisations to call home, and hosts all manner of events and activities, from church services, school lessons, dance classes to community and family celebrations and social events. The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain was formed in 1946 and registered as an organisation in the UK in 1947. Bradford branch was formed in 1947,...

In the UK diaspora, the post WWII wave of Ukrainians have organised their communities around a cultural centre. This building is a space for all community organisations to call home, and hosts all manner of events and activities, from church services, school lessons, dance classes to community and family celebrations and social events.

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain was formed in 1946 and registered as an organisation in the UK in 1947. Bradford branch was formed in 1947, the same year that Andrij Kalyta and his wife became the first Ukrainians to settle in the city. AUGB Bradford opened a branch building at 13 Claremont Street, Great Horton Road, in spring 1950. It was significant as it was the first AUGB building outside London and Surrey (49 Linden Gardens and Sydenhurst at Chiddingfold had already been purchased and were in use as an administrative centre and invalid’s home respectively). The community has fundraised for two years to raise the £2,950 to buy the property which was intended to serve the 1,000 or so Ukrainians living in Bradford and its environs. The building was located near to the city centre, a short walk from the main bus station, making it accessible by public transport. It has 12 rooms with enough space for the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) and the Former Combatants Association (ObVU) to carry out activities. There was also a reading room and accommodation for overnight stays, as well as rooms for meetings and administrative work.

In 1956, the Lyman social club was opened at the centre, so that the community had a space to relax and mix socially, as well as creating a way to help finance the various community activities. The community continued to grow as the first generation settled down and started to have families. Provision of increased with the creation of the Ukrainian Saturday School in 1953. In 1959, 15 Claremont Street was purchased and in 1962, planning permission was granted for a new hall on the back of the Claremont Street buildings. This was opened on 22 January 1966 by branch chairperson Mykhailo Rewilak. However, by the late 1970s, the community had outgrown the cultural centre, and new a new property called Westfield on Legrams Lane was purchased for £65,000. After much building and refurbishment, the core of the cultural centre opened on 2 May 1981. The site continued to be developed and a new school and school hall were opened on 27 August 1983 and a main hall with a capacity of 550 was opened on 3 March 1984. In the early 2000s, a football pitch was added.