Scotland’s oldest ship HMS Unicorn aids Ukrainians displaced by war

The Unicorn Preservation Society (USP), the charity responsible for Scotland’s oldest ship, HMS Unicorn, has been reaching out to Ukrainians displaced by the Russian-Ukraine war, using Scotland’s heritage to help them develop transferable skills including mastering the English language and social integration.

The Ukrainians Together and Unicorn project, which has received funding from the Museum Galleries Scotland Sustainable Co-Production Fund, aims to build bridges between local museums and the Ukrainian community. It is part of the work undertaken by social enterprise ‘Bring Together Ltd’, started by Vitalii Diakov and Hanna Dushkova in 2022 with a vision to transform the challenges of displaced people into resilient communities through workshops and training.

The Sustainable Co-Production fund is part of Delivering Change, a collective effort between Museums Galleries Scotland and partnering museums, galleries, and community groups to restructure as organisations based on anti-oppressive principles.

As well as welcoming cohorts of Ukrainian refugees to explore Dundee’s much loved museum and visitor attraction, HMS Unicorn, the Unicorn Preservation Society has organised visits for the Ukrainians involved in the Ukrainians Together and Unicorn project to other major heritage sites across Tayside, such as the V&A Museum Dundee, Discovery Point Dundee, Perth Museum and Perth Art Gallery.

The Ukrainians Together and Unicorn project will help the Unicorn Preservation Society to gain insights from the Ukrainians about how they can improve cultural visits for people from the global majority and those with English as a second language. UK Government statistics from 2024 show that a lower-than-average percentage of people in the Pakistani (16%), black African (25%) and Indian (28%) ethnic groups visited a museum or gallery.

Natalia Kirilyuk, who participated in the Ukrainians Together and Unicorn project said: “I have been in Great Britain since July 2022. I like everything in the UK. Thanks to participation in the project, I had a good time with my child, developing culturally, communicated with Ukrainians, and got to know both Scottish culture and world culture.”

Another participant, Valentyna Bezsonova, added: “The project gave me positive emotions and practical knowledge, as well as an introduction to Dundee’s history and culture. I have been in Scotland since July 2022. I am from Melitopol, a city on the south of Ukraine. I admire Scotland’s culture, architecture, and natural beauty, but most importantly, people are genuine, open and eager to help.”

Museum Director, Matthew Bellhouse Moran, said: “We’re delighted at the success of the Ukrainians Together and Unicorn project, which has really worked for mutual benefit. The feedback from the Ukrainians we have invited on board the ship has been so insightful. It has helped us to understand how we can better reach out to and engage with the global majority or those where their first language may not be English.

“By being able to explore HMS Unicorn and other heritage sites the project has really helped to integrate our Ukrainians into life here in Tayside, by helping them to understand more about our history, and with that, help them to develop transferable skills which will be invaluable as they work to create lives for themselves in Tayside.”

Vitalii Diakov of social enterprise, Bring Together, said: The story of our relationship with the Unicorn Preservation Society is amazing. Initially we got in touch in July 2023 to ask for a tour of the ship for the peacebuilding summer programme for children. The team at the museum were very welcoming and friendly. In December, we met with the museum to discuss what the needs of the community are, and what activities at the museum could help with inclusion and integration. The plan took shape, and we scheduled the first visit for August, which coincided with Ukraine Independence Day. Our partnership emphasises the importance of human connections, cultural exchange, and relationship-building between displaced families and local communities. The Bring Together project seeks to bring families together, foster communication, and enrich communication to educational programmes and cultural visits.”

HMS Unicorn continues to have a significant social impact in Dundee through its successful Wavemakers volunteer programme, providing volunteering opportunities for those who need it most, to develop employability skills. Project Safe Haven, a major development which will secure the future of HMS Unicorn and improve the tourism experience in Dundee bringing an estimated 50,000 additional visitors to the region each year, will see an extension in the cultural, educational and volunteering opportunities the Unicorn Preservation will be able to offer.

As part of a Maritime Heritage Centre at the heart of Dundee, Project Safe Haven will see a purpose built, environmentally sound Heritage Centre for visitors, learners and the community and will house collections, events and larger group activities. However, a significant injection of funding is required for major preservation work on HMS Unicorn to ensure its existence for future generations, and in order that Project Safe Haven can be realised. Work has already begun on phase one of the work, but to embark of phase two of the planned works £11.2 million needs to be raised by summer 2026. The Unicorn Preservation Society aim to raise the first £1 million by March 2025.

To support the preservation of HMS Unicorn and to help Project Safe Haven come to life by becoming a ‘Shipmate’ of HMS Unicorn, please visit: https://www.hmsunicorn.org.uk/hms-unicorn/supporting-us