A woman from Ukraine who fled her country after the Russian invasion has settled in Staffordshire and secured a full-time job.
Hanna Zadushynska 29, was a retail manager and then worked in the Kyiv Passport Office before coming to the UK. She has now secured employment with Staffordshire County Council’s Jobs and Careers Service.
Hanna with her husband Oleksandr and their four-year-old daughter Solomiia arrived in Stafford in May 2022 where they settled in with a host family. Keen to be an active part of the local community, Hanna put a plan in place to find full-time employment.
Having approached the council’s new Staffordshire Jobs and Careers Service for help, she secured a 12-week Open Door placement with the authority’s school transport team in February.
It proved to be a good step to gaining valuable experience while brushing up on her English.
Hanna impressed her manager so much that when a job vacancy became available within the department, she was encouraged to apply. Armed with the knowledge of how to do the job and with her previous skills and experience in Ukraine she was successful.
Hanna said: “Since arriving in Stafford everyone has been so kind to us and we’ve settled in really well.
“Leaving Ukraine after the invasion was a difficult decision as I still have family over there but I knew it was best for our family, especially for our daughter.
“Working for the public good and being able to help people is important to me so I was pleased when the opportunity to do the work placement at the council came up. And then getting the job was brilliant.”
“The team on the Open-Door programme and the Jobs and Careers Service were very helpful. Working with My adviser, we looked at my skills and what kind of work I could do. I was quite nervous before starting the placement as I didn’t know what to expect but the team talked me through everything I needed to do.
“I hope to return to Ukraine one day, when it’s safe to do so but for now, I’m loving life in Stafford and my job helping organise school transport for children. I’m very grateful for the warm welcome and help I’ve had and thank people for this.”
People can find out more at Staffordshire Job & Careers Brokerage for Residents for one to one support and explore the website of local opportunities at on the Staffordshire Jobs & Careers website.
