With the Caerphilly by-election looming just days away, the county borough finds itself in the spotlight—not just for its political contest but for deep questions about community, identity, and the services that bind people together. In a year marked by heated debates, shifting attitudes, and local challenges, the voices of both long-time residents and recent arrivals are shaping the narrative in unexpected ways.
On October 17, 2025, a remarkable scene unfolded in Caerphilly: local schoolchildren, members of the Ukrainian community, and civic leaders gathered to plant bluebells and daffodils—symbols of hope, peace, and unity. The event, orchestrated by Lynn Gazal of Climate Action Caerphilly, was more than just a gardening project. It was a powerful statement, a living metaphor for the resilience and aspirations of a community grappling with change.
According to WalesOnline, the event brought together children from Plasyfelin Primary School and Ukrainian residents who have made Caerphilly their home since fleeing the war in 2022. Among them was Yuliia Bond, who arrived with her two children. She recalled the warmth of her initial welcome: "We felt welcome when we came and there were flags everywhere," she said. But, as campaigning for the by-election intensified, she noticed a stark shift. "Now we are being told, by pretty much the same people, that you should leave, you should go back. We are not here to take. We are here to give. We are here to contribute. Most of us work, we pay taxes, we shouldn't be treated as a burden."
The context for these changing attitudes, as several Ukrainian residents observed, is the growing controversy over the Welsh Government's Nation of Sanctuary scheme. Designed to help refugees and asylum seekers integrate—by teaching English, supporting job searches, and helping families find schools—the scheme uses just 0.05% of the Welsh Government's £29 billion annual budget. Yet, as the by-election approaches, it has become a lightning rod for political debate.
Reform UK, one of the major parties contesting the by-election, has made opposition to the Nation of Sanctuary a central plank of its campaign. Their critics, including members of the Ukrainian community and rival politicians, accuse them of spreading "false and misleading" information about the scheme. In fact, members of Caerphilly's Ukrainian community have formally complained to the council's returning officer, arguing that Reform UK's campaign materials mischaracterize the program and stoke division.
Vira Mandrika, another Ukrainian resident, explained to WalesOnline: "We as the Ukrainian community want to explain what this scheme actually is and how important it is to be supported. We feel that Reform are misrepresenting the scheme as a problem to Welsh society. They make it seem like it's for 'illegal' immigrants, but it's not, most of the money was spent on Ukrainian refugees, who are absolutely legal here."
Olha Cherniavska, who moved to Wales in 2022, echoed the gratitude many feel: "The people are so friendly, I was shocked because all the people want to help us, it was so amazing." While she has not experienced a change in attitudes herself, she recognizes the anxiety others in her community feel as political rhetoric intensifies.
The planting event also drew a host of political figures. Labour candidate Richard Tunnicliffe, Plaid Cymru's Lindsay Whittle, Liberal Democrat Steve Aicheler, and Green Party's Gareth Hughes all attended, standing alongside the Ukrainian community and local activists. Notably absent were the Conservative candidate Gareth Potter and Reform's Llyr Powell.
Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, present at the event, emphasized the importance of solidarity: "This is about celebrating the links we have with people in Ukraine... we've been able in Wales to show a welcome to people fleeing from the bombs and the bullets. It is very clear that some of the things our political opponents are attacking are processes that have been put in place for our friends from Ukraine. Don't we want to show our humanity here in Wales, don't we want to help the people of Ukraine at this most desperate time in their history?"
Labour's Richard Tunnicliffe and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jane Hutt were equally forthright: "This is about Labour standing side by side with our Ukrainian friends. This is what the Nation of Sanctuary is all about, enabling people to fit in, for people to contribute, that is what they want and that is what we want and that is what is under threat from some parties that actually want to attack this and send people back to a war zone, which is absolutely crazy."
Reform UK, for their part, have not backed down. A spokesperson told WalesOnline: "We make no apology for opposing the Nation of Sanctuary plan. Polling shows that people in Wales want to see an end to this policy, and we’re the only party in with a chance in Caerphilly that will scrap it. It’s absolutely clear that if you want to see this policy scrapped, vote Reform." Their stance has found resonance among some voters, even as others reject it as divisive.
Amid the political wrangling, everyday concerns about local services continue to simmer. According to the Herald Wales, more than 8,000 bin collections have been missed across Caerphilly County Borough so far in 2025. The Ynysddu ward alone reported 1,643 missed collections between January and August, with St Cattwg and Risca East and West also experiencing high numbers. In contrast, areas like Gilfach, Moriah, Pontlottyn, and Crosskeys saw almost no missed collections.
Cllr Janine Reed, an independent representing Ynysddu, called the situation "very poor" and questioned how Caerphilly County Borough Council could justify such disparities. However, a council spokesperson pointed out that, in the broader context, missed collections for the first quarter of 2025/26 were at their lowest in three years—just 0.01% of all collections, serving over 82,000 homes. "Our performance data shows that missed collections for the first quarter of 2025/26 are the lowest for the last three years at a rate of 0.01%," the spokesperson said, adding that crews return as quickly as possible to address any missed locations.
For many in Caerphilly, the intersection of these issues—immigration, integration, and local public services—reflects the broader debates playing out across Wales and the UK. As Yuliia Bond observed, "A feeling of belonging is very important. Fleeing the war, leaving your house, leaving your job, leaving your loved ones, leaving streets where you had all these memories with your relatives and everything. And starting over completely from scratch, a new place, how important it is to feel welcomed, how important it is to feel like you belong. It's literally everything."
The bulbs planted by Caerphilly's children, funded by the town council and supported by community groups, will bloom in the spring—a quiet, colorful testament to the hope that, despite political storms and service hiccups, communities can still choose unity over division.
