As the first families begin to arrive in the county, we’re working with other agencies including local district and borough councils, health colleagues, police, voluntary and community groups to support them as part of the Government’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme.
This is the largest resettlement programme we have helped to co-ordinate having previously led the response to calls from Government to house Afghan refugees.
The partnership is not responsible for matching host households with people travelling from Ukraine but is working to support both the hosts and guests once they have been matched and their Visa application has been confirmed.
It’s vital that Ukrainian refugees are settled into safe and supportive environments and we’re doing all we can to make sure the process to ensure the safety of individuals runs as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Hosts – or sponsors as they are also known – can be private residents, charities, or other organisations, but must be able to provide accommodation for at least 6 months.
As part of the scheme, Government has asked councils and other agencies to take on tasks such as carrying out safeguarding checks to make sure refugees are settled into safe and supportive homes, administering emergency payments of £200 to refugees and national £350 a month ‘thank you’ payments to host families – also known as sponsors – helping to secure school places for arriving children and young people and giving advice on how to access other services, like healthcare or welfare benefits. Partners have not been asked to match sponsors and guests.