Thursday April 23rd 2026
The single has been arrnaged and performed by Ukrainian composer Bohdan Ilnyskye (on right). Credit: Dnipro Kids
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Edinburgh charity, Dnipro Kids, who have been supporting Ukrainian children for over 20 years, are now releasing a single of beloved Edinburgh song ‘Sunshine on Leith’ to mark their 20 year milestone.
Described as a ‘haunting and beautiful’ version of the Proclaimer’s love letter to Leith, the cover has received support and backing from the Scottish rock twins themselves.
The single has brought together both artists from Scotland and Ukraine to record a special cover of the iconic Edinburgh song, being used as the backing track of an up-coming documentary surrounding the charity’s vital work with all proceeds going towards supporting the charity.
Founded in 2005 by a group of Hibs fans after a UEFA tie against FC Dnipro in the Ukrainian City of Dnipropetrovsk, the charity was formed by Chairman Steven Carr, alongside co-founders, with the urge to make a change in Ukraine after a turnstile donation collection at Hibs home leg.
Starting with work at orphanages in Ukraine in the 2000’s, the charity’s work evolved over the years until Steven took it upon himself to travel to Ukraine and evacuate children when Russia invaded in February 2022.
Now to celebrate 20 years of vital work, the charity is releasing a documentary highlighting the children they have helped, celebrating the more than 50 children evacuated from six Ukrainian orphanage families after the Russian invasion in 2022.
Chairman Steven Carr explained: “Hibernian FC is embedded in the creation of the charity and the work it has done over the last 20 years, including the evacuation back in 2022. It is fitting that the anthem of the club is also part of the story of the charity.”
Leith-based video production company Arms & Legs, led by Hibs fan Ross Addy, were asked to produce a documentary to mark the charity’s story. The production team decided early on that the best approach was to create a collaboration involving film-makers, artists and professionals from both Scotland and Ukraine.
This collaborative approach has extended to the single with Steven describing the Scottish/Ukrainian sound as something special that he felt ‘deserved some recognition in its own right’, leading to the single planned to be released on May 1st, prior to the documentary’s release.
Ukrainian composer and musician, Bohdan Ilnytskyi, agreed to put together an orchestra for the track, accompanied by Scottish singer Luka La Volpe.
Scottish singer Luka La Volpe us among the performers on the new single. Credit: Dnipro Kids
Steven added: “It’s not in our current plans to produce anything more in conjunction with the documentary. That said, who knows where the Scottish/Ukrainian collaboration will lead to in the future.”
The single is being made available to listen prior to the documentary on May 1st through Bandcamp, allowing all proceeds raised to go straight to Dnipro Kids.
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