News / bristol city council
Plan for partner cities in Ukraine and Barbados gains council support
A plan to pair Bristol with the Ukrainian city of Odesa and Speightstown in Barbados has been supported by councillors.
But Bristol City Council’s leader said that nobody would be going to the Caribbean “on a jolly”.
The arrangements will span three years from summer 2026 and are designed to increase co-operation, unlock funding opportunities and deliver local benefits.
The new ‘partner cities’ will not function the same as Bristol’s seven twinned cities. They will run for a limited time period and do not carry dedicated funding for major projects.
However, they will provide a framework for accessing funding opportunities.
A particular benefit will be in the higher education sector, with Bristol’s institutions planning to share knowledge and research with Odesa’s 20 plus universities and institutes.
The shift from formal twinning arrangements is due to a lack of resources to develop new ones, with short-term partnerships now seen as more achievable.
In a Bristol City Council committee meeting on Tuesday, chair Tony Dyer said: “We do have a large Afro-Caribbean population in this city who have long contributed to the culture, heritage and indeed the politics.
“And we are a city that is still coming to terms with our history. That history has not always been something we can be proud of.
“By reaching out and establishing a partner city relationship with Speightstown we hope to further improve but also recognise our historical connections.”
Speightstown’s historical ties to Bristol go back to the sugar industry of the 1600s and 1700s. The high volume of trade between the two places resulted in the Barbadian town being nicknamed ‘Little Bristol’.
Bristolians have shown their support for Ukraine in a number of demonstrations – photo: Rob Browne
Antonina Grebeniuk, founder of Ukraine Aid and Welfare and Ukrainian School Bristol, said: “This proposed partnership between Bristol and Odesa is especially meaningful for many Ukrainian families and volunteers in Bristol.
“Over the last few years, people across the city have worked tirelessly to build community connections, support new arrivals, preserve culture and create opportunities for education and integration.
“It is encouraging to see these grassroots relationships recognised at city level and I hope this partnership will help strengthen long-term cultural, educational and community links that benefit people in both cities.”
The committee’s decision to support the pairings was met with a smattering of applause.
Dyer mooted plans for a ceremonial event, though he added wryly: “Sorry councillors, do not get your hopes up. We are not going to Barbados on a jolly.”
Main photo: Hwyrd
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