On November 1, 2025, the non-governmental organization “Community Self-Help” began participating in the joint international project “Needs and Experiences of Ukrainians with Disabilities” which is being implemented in partnership with the University of Warwick (United Kingdom) and funded by the Research England Policy Support Fund.
The goal of the Ukrainian component of the project is to study the experiences of people with physical disabilities in Ukraine, particularly their access to rehabilitation, healthcare, housing, and employment during the war and in the post-war recovery process. The findings will be used to develop recommendations on inclusion and long-term support for the population affected by the war.
On the British side, this project is led by Professor Robin Goodwin, Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, and is funded by the Research England Policy Support Fund.
On the Ukrainian side:
Dr Kateryna Buchko is a Lecturer in Pedagogy and Social Work at Ukrainian Catholic University, Psychosocial Support Officer at NGO Community Self-Help and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Stirling. Kateryna is a field research partner for the Warwick project “Needs and Experiences of Ukrainians with Disabilities”. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on disability, forced migration, education and social work practice in contexts of war and displacement. Her current work examines the experiences and integration of Ukrainians displaced across borders following Russia’s full-scale invasion, with particular attention to the psychosocial needs of children and the work of humanitarian practitioners in front-line regions.
Vitalii Kharechko, Chair of the Board, NGO Community Self-Help, Project Lead (Ukraine). An organization working at the intersection of psychosocial support, veteran reintegration, and disability inclusion in contexts of war and recovery.Within the Warwick research project, Vitalii serves as the Ukraine Project Lead, coordinating institutional partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and policy dialogue. He oversees collaboration with governmental bodies, civil society actors, and international partners to ensure that research findings translate into practical policy recommendations.His work focuses on strengthening psychosocial support systems, advancing inclusive policies for veterans and persons with disabilities, and building sustainable international partnerships between Ukrainian and UK institutions.
The research builds on previous studies conducted by the University of Warwick, which examined the experiences of Ukrainian refugees with disabilities in the UK and formed the basis for policy discussions in the UK Parliament, the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department for Work and Pensions, and among civil society partners.
The collaboration with the non-governmental organization “Community Self-Help” is an important international extension of this work. The Ukrainian component of the project will focus on researching the experiences of people with physical disabilities in Ukraine, particularly their access to rehabilitation, healthcare, housing, and employment during the war and post-war recovery. The findings will be used to develop evidence-based recommendations for Ukrainian and British policymakers regarding the inclusion of people with disabilities and long-term support for the population affected by the war.
