Samopomich [«Самопоміч»] – a society formed in 1919 by Ukrainians in Manchester.
The society was formed with the support of the diplomatic mission of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UNR) in London. Its aim was to offer moral and material support to Ukraine in its pursuit of independence. Initially, 33 members of the Manchester Ukrainian community joined the society, and its executive committee comprised: Joseph Lesniowsky – chairman, Wasyl Solar – treasurer, Petro Lesniowsky – secretary, Dmytrij Komarensky, Ihnaty Zavalinsky, Platon Solar and Alexander Rucky.
A letter dated 30 August 1919 to the British government from Joseph Lesniowsky and 15 other signatories, calling for official British recognition of the UNR, is held at The National Archives in Kew, London.
Bibliography
'Ukrainskyi komitet v Manchester, Anglia', Svoboda (Jersey City), 21 August 1919, p. 2