UK individuals, charities, community groups and businesses can now record their interest in supporting Ukrainians fleeing the war through the UK government’s new Homes for Ukraine scheme.
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, has today (14 March 2022) launched a webpage for sponsors to record their interest, ahead of Phase One of the scheme opening for applications this Friday.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the UK.
Phase One of the scheme will allow sponsors in the UK to nominate a named Ukrainian or a named Ukrainian family to stay with them in their home or in a separate property.
Record your interest on the Homes for Ukraine webpage
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said: ”The courage shown by the Ukrainian people in the face of devastation caused by the invasion of their great country is nothing short of remarkable.
“The United Kingdom has a long and proud history of helping others in their hour of need and our new Homes for Ukraine scheme offers a lifeline to those who have been forced to flee.
“I’m asking people across our country who can provide a home for Ukrainians to consider being sponsors.”
Local Government Association Chairman, Cllr James Jamieson said: “The humanitarian crisis caused by the Ukraine invasion is heart-breaking. Councils are ready to help new arrivals from Ukraine settle in the UK and to support communities who wish to offer assistance to those fleeing the devastating conflict.
“Councils will be central in helping families settle into their communities and access public services, including schools, public health and other support, including access to trauma counselling.”
Sanctuary Foundation Director, Dr Krish Kandiah said: “In 1939 the people of the UK opened their hearts and homes to children fleeing from the Nazis and we look back on that ‘Kinder Transport’ as an act of culture-defining hospitality. With the invasion of Ukraine the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war is unfolding.
“I welcome with great enthusiasm the UK government’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme. Sanctuary Foundation has already had over 7,000 pledges of sponsorship and I stand ready both personally and professionally to be part of this extraordinary welcome of Ukrainian refugees.”
Co-Director of Reset Communities and Refugees, Kate Brown said: “We warmly welcome the introduction of a way in which communities in the UK can open their doors to welcome those who so urgently need help.
“We have seen that, when communities come together to welcome those seeking sanctuary, they can make a huge impact, transforming the lives of so many whilst offering safety to those who need it.”
Record your interest on the Homes for Ukraine webpage
Individual sponsors will be asked to provide homes or a spare room rent-free for as long as they are able, with a minimum stay of 6 months. In return, they will receive £350 per month.
Those who have a named Ukrainian they wish to sponsor should contact them directly and prepare to fill in a visa application, with the application launching on Friday 18 March.
Charities, faith groups and local community organisations are also helping to facilitate connections between individuals, for potential sponsors who do not have a named contact.
Ukrainians arriving in the UK under this scheme will be granted 3 years leave to remain, with entitlement to work, and access benefits and public services.
Applicants will be vetted and will undergo security checks.
Birmingham University’s Professor Jenny Phillimore on the Ukrainian refugees settlement programme announced by the UK government:
“The proposed Ukrainian scheme is very different in that individuals and families can sponsor a refugee or refugee family and there is no requirement to raise funds or to locate separate housing.
“The application process has to be much faster with Ukrainians currently displaced and countries adjacent to Ukraine rapidly reaching capacity as more and more women and children escape the conflict.
“Unlike the situation of Syrians sponsored by communities those needing refuge from the Ukrainian conflict are very recently displaced and are likely to be extremely traumatised.
“Allowing individuals and families to sponsor displaced Ukrainians clearly offers great potential to quickly build capacity to meet urgent need. With around 10% of the UK population saying they would definitely open their homes to needy Ukrainians there is reason to be optimistic.
“However it is worth reminding ourselves that those who arrive will be extremely vulnerable, largely women and children, in a state of shock having lost their entire lives, and possibly loved ones, in just a matter of weeks.
“While the level of bureaucracy associated with Community Sponsorship is clearly not viable there is a need to safeguard the new arrivals against the possibility of abuse by hosts through a rapid vetting process.
“Further newcomers need to be informed about their rights and entitlements as they enter the UK and informed about the actions they can take if they face abuse or exploitation of any kind. The majority of people hosting refugees will not have any knowledge about the kinds of support they need.
“Our evaluation of the Community Sponsorship programme showed that the support of local people is extremely important to refugees but that those volunteering with refugees need help to meet their needs.
“It is essential that the Government invests in information, advice and guidance for refugee hosts. Such support could be provided by specialist refugee and asylum seeker organisations already working in the UK.
“National organisations such as Reset, the Refugee Council and Refugee Action as well as smaller grassroots groups such as Baobab Project and Brushstrokes in the West Midlands have a wealth of expertise on refugee support but are already hugely under-funded. Such organisations urgently need additional funds to enable them to scale up to support the arrival of Ukrainian refugees.
“The extent of sympathy and desire to help Ukrainian refugees in the UK runs counter to the Home Office’s attempts to reduce the number of arrivals. If the projections are to be believed offers of support will exceed demand for places.
“The situation presents an opportunity to right the wrongs faced by Afghan refugees many of whom have been languishing in hotels with scant access to healthcare, schooling and employment opportunities since August.
“They and other forced migrants should not be forgotten as the world turns its attention to Ukraine. It is important to use the current wave of sympathy for Ukrainians to remind both the UK Government and population that forced migration affects people from many nations and that others already in the UK and planning to seek asylum here are just as worthy and in need of support as Ukrainians.
“Ideally access to the upcoming scheme could be extended to enable British people to sponsor refugees escaping from other conflicts, and the appalling situation in Ukraine used to remind people that all conflict causes displacement, trauma and that forced migrants need help from wherever they originate.”
For more information or to record interest visit the Homes for Ukraine webpage.
Sponsors will be kept updated on the scheme.
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