A Ukrainian teen has become 'much more confident' after winning a medal for his school at a town regatta. 

Dima Polino, 13, arrived in Marlow with his mother Anna and his younger sister in April 2022. 

Anna was quick to ingratiate herself within the town's community, beginning a job at Great Marlow School and helping other displaced children to settle into their new home.

She was initially worried about how her two children would adapt to living in a foreign country, but Dima in particular has managed to make friends and settle into Marlow through joining a local rowing club.

"Some of the children I work with have very basic levels of English and it can be very hard for them to learn and to make friends because they're not confident in communicating - especially the teenagers.

"I was worried that my children would not be able to open up after moving to an unfamiliar foreign country but I'm so happy that they have found things to be involved in."

Dima's interest in rowing was born after the family attended the Marlow Regatta 2022 with their sponsor, Nadine Saunders, shortly after arriving in the town.

"He was so excited, so we spoke to Great Marlow School and they said he could join a rowing club in Longridge.

"He's very good now and he loves it. This Saturday, my daughter's school is going on a trip to the seaside and I asked him if he wanted to come with us. He told me, 'No, I have training in Longridge because I have the Reading Regatta on Saturday.' It's very important to him."

Dima won his first medal at the Marlow Town Regatta and Festival last weekend, something that Anna said has given him a real boost in confidence.

"He was so excited to get his medal. He had competed in another rowing competition in London before, but they had no medals or certificates there. He's so motivated now."

Given Anna's unique perspective into how displaced Ukrainian children are adapting to their new lives in Marlow, she is in a good position to appreciate the positive impact becoming a rower has had on her son's physical and mental wellbeing.

"He is so dedicated to working hard and wanting to be part of the community. It's about his confidence - now he has friends he can go out with, I see him smiling all the time.

"He's never sitting around on his phone or in a bad mood. He's made English-speaking friends through the rowing club too, which is great for improving his language because he's not fluent yet.

"I'm not so worried about my children anymore - they're doing ok and we're all happy here."