1. DONATING support for Ukrainian refugees
“ One of the best ways to help is by donating cash through trusted charities and aid organisations, rather than donating goods. Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed and individuals and aid organisations can use it to buy what is most needed. Unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can obstruct supply chains and delay more urgent life-saving assistance from getting through” (Government site)
The main national, charity-collaboration donation site is at: Donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal
You can see there all the organisations supported via this appeal https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
Some of the main charities providing humanitarian relief in Ukraine include:
- The British Red Cross, helping Ukrainian Red Cross provide food, water, medicine, clothing & shelter, as well as first aid training in bomb shelters https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal
- The UNHCR refugee agency, funding emergency shelters, home repairs, emergency cash assistance, psychological support, clothing https://www.unrefugees.org.uk/where-help-is-needed/ukraine-situation/
- UNICEF, the UN’s children’s charity, helping supply water and food and working to support child health and protection services https://www.unicef.org/appeals/ukraine
- Save the Children, providing cash flow, food & other support to refugees crossing into neighbouring countries, and in Ukraine itself https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/where-we-work/europe/ukraine
- The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, the largest representative body for Ukrainians in the UK, welcomes donations towards medicine, food and other essentials https://www.augb.co.uk/
- The United Nations Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Relief fund https://crisisrelief.un.org/ukraine-crisis
- Shelterbox. https://www.shelterbox.org/ukraine-crisis-urgent-appeal/
- Refugee Support https://www.refugeesupporteu.com/making-a-difference-in-ukraine/
Organisations working on helping situation of Ukrainian refugees in UK include: Refugee Council, the British Red Cross, Save the Children, Oxfam, Citizens UK
2. HOSTING : WELCOMING Ukrainian people in your home
(a) hosting concerns guidance (b) Government guidelines
(a) Some useful advice when considering offering host hospitality:
NACCOM have put together a guide for hosts: https://naccom.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NACCOM-Hosting-Good-Practice-Guide-2022_PART-1-FINAL.pdf
RESET’s insights: https://resetuk.org/toolkits/homes-for-ukraine/thinking-about-your-support
RESET is also gathering further useful links here: https://resetuk.org/toolkits/homes-for-ukraine/useful-links
(b) Main Government website and info about the overall plan:
‘Homes for Ukraine’: https://apply-to-offer-homes-for-ukraine.service.gov.uk/
To sponsor/host persons from Ukraine here in Devon:
https://www.devon.gov.uk/supporting-ukraine/document/the-sponsor-process-in-devon/
Key extracts from Government website:
To become a recognised sponsor, and qualify for any payments and support, you must register on the Homes for Ukraine website, managed and run by the UK government.
Host households will be offered a tax-free payment of £350 a month for up to 12 months, regardless of how many individuals they support. Only one payment per residential address.
You must be prepared:
- to be security checked
- for all members of your household to have their criminal record checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- for your accommodation to meet basic minimum criteria
- to be able to host for a minimum of six months
Additionally, you should give careful thought to your ability:
- to provide a safe environment
- to cope with young people and children, if offering to host families
- to host people who have suffered hardship and trauma
You should also consider if the location of your accommodation is suitable in terms of easy access to services, for example, public transport, schools and shops.
The UK government has published guidance for sponsors and answers to some frequently asked questions.
Once registered on the government site you may wish to approach a charity and register your interest with them. Some charities and NGOs working to help match potential sponsors and Ukrainian households seeking to come to the UK include:
- Refugees at Home, a charity connecting refugees and hosts online
- Room for Refugees
- Shelter 4 Ukraine, a Ukrainian-run service that registers hosts and refugees
- Reset, which has run a community sponsorship scheme for refugees since 2018
Info about becoming a sponsor, responsibilities, checks and how to support guests at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guidance
SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COUNCILS under the Homes for Ukraine scheme:
The government will give councils £10,500 a person to cover arrival costs, safeguarding inspections & access to public services + £8,755 in additional funding available per child for education.
The government plans to provide guests with a Welcome Pack of useful information on support available in the UK, including housing, employment, health facilities and education.
Guidance on how to support guests has been issued to your local council.
Your local council will be able to provide information about support they are providing in your area.
Devon County Council: https://www.devon.gov.uk/supporting-ukraine/
South Hams District Council: https://www.southhams.gov.uk/stand-with-ukraine
ALL guidance will be published on GOV.UK and updated as necessary
Network of mutual support for Host families and Ukrainians coming to this area may grow out of linking between these households.
Let us know if you would like to be part of this network and are happy to be linked in to others in the same situation.
If you are not intending to host, but would like to offer support such as language skills (Russian, Ukrainian, Polish), or befriending, also contact us at info@beyondborderstotnes.org.uk
Beyond Borders Totnes & District 