Southwell couple who organised Clap for Ukraine initiative sees initiative grow as pubs and community come together

An initiative to show support for Ukraine has spread its wings as businesses and residents join forces in a series of claps this weekend.

Following the news that US President Donald Trump has suspended all military aid for Ukraine, couple Simon Hollingsworth and Catherine Wilson, of Southwell, organised a Clap for Ukraine taking place on Sunday (March 9) at 7pm.

What started as a simple idea to encourage people to stand on their doorsteps and show solidarity has evolved into a widespread event involving local traders, market stalls, and public venues, with two pubs in the town — The Old Coach House and The Full Moon Morton — confirmed to be organising collective claps.

Catherine believes that clapping will show support to the people but also make enough noise to “tell our leaders loud and clear that we stand together against tyranny and bullies.”

She added: “I’m just grateful to everybody for really embracing the power of the individual to do something.

“The kindness and support have been incredible.”

Simon shared the same feeling, describing how the idea quickly gained momentum.

“It was very organic and off-the-cuff. We just felt we needed to do something, anything is better than nothing.

“So we did, and it’s spread across the town and even beyond.”

He shared that the initiative has spread away from Southwell, with family members in Margate and even a relative in America planning to join in the clapping.

As the couple has been going around the town, appealing to people to share and join on Sunday, some traders and business owners said to be closed on Sunday.

Catherine has also decided to organise a second event, set to take place on Saturday (March 8) at 1pm, where shops and traders could join and appeal to their customers to do the same.

Shops confirmed to be taking part include Burley’s, Studio Lingerie, Co-op, the sweet shop, Core, Real Clothing, Hen House, Boots, Gossips, Labels and Stoppards.

The market traders, supported by Southwell Town Council, will also be participating.

Southwell Town Council has backed the initiative by promoting it on their social media and the Methodist Church is also helping spread the word.

Katherine reflected on how the movement has grown beyond their initial idea and said: “We’ve just been able to harness the huge well of sympathy and support for Ukraine at this time.

“It’s not really about us but about people coming together and making a stand.”

The campaign already reached Ukraine, with Simon, who works as a translator, receiving a heartfelt message from Oleksandra Tkachuk, a project manager at a Ukrainian translation agency in Kyiv.

The message read: “Thank you so much for your support and this wonderful initiative! It truly means a lot to us.

“We’ll definitely be listening – who knows, maybe your applause will be so powerful that we’ll hear it all the way here in Ukraine.

“We’re deeply grateful for everything you’re doing. Your solidarity gives us strength and reminds us that we are not alone.

“Thank you for standing with Ukraine. Together, we are stronger.

“Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes!”