Information for those considering supporting refugees from Ukraine
Wiltshire Council are co-ordinating refugee enquiries, and their website is being updated regularly. A welcome pack is prepared for all refugees, not just Ukrainians, but also Syrian and Afghan refugees who are also still looking for support.
Placement – the infrastructure and the ability for refugees to maintain in-person links with each other makes it more likely that cities might be more suitable. It is a numerically unlimited scheme, and it is expected that Wiltshire will provide around 1% of the sponsored refugee placements. It was confirmed that although the obligation to house Ukrainian guests lasts for six months, provided guests have applied for their biometric residency permit, they can stay up to three years and have full eligibility for benefits, health and education services and full rights to work.
Guidance for families looking to host sponsored refugees:
a. There is a difference between the sponsored scheme and the family scheme and potential hosts must consider carefully the impact of hosting an individual or family group for six months (the government minimum timeframe for hosting a sponsored individual). Important for all those wishing to support the settling of refugees to be patient about the processes to check accommodation and safeguarding checks. Be aware of duplication or multiplication of contacts, communications, and resource time of the Wiltshire Council officers.
b. It was asserted that hosting refugees could be life-enhancing for the hosts but be aware of sensitivity around ensuring that refugees could live independently in their hosts’ homes, without obligation or unnecessary fuss. Also be aware of specific safeguarding considerations such as financial independence for both the host/s and guest/s.
c. Note: many refugees will be suffering from trauma and would need access to fellow Ukrainians for worship and other aspects of their culture.
d. It has been difficult to divert Wiltshire Council staff from essential services such as foster-care checks to carry out accommodation and DBS checks of hosts and their properties. Please be patient!
e. Do not use Facebook for identifying individuals due to the risk of abuse.
General information:
a. 88% of those crossing border are female.
b. 91% Ukrainian 3% Russian 2% Moldovan. Most want to remain in border countries and 50% were staying with family in those countries.
c. Important safeguarding information:
- The needs of pregnant women and children were being prioritised
- Likely mental health needs of guests in both the short and long terms and the need for housing and healthcare systems to be co-ordinated.
- Education:
- Many families outside Ukraine are accessing online schooling led by their Ukrainian schools.
- In Ukraine school begins at age 7 so be aware of concerns about the impact this might have on young refugees coming into our UK education system.
- Five to Thrive trauma support for children is available.
d. Banking: the need for refugees to open bank accounts: https://monzo.com/ was recommended as was Metro Bank and front-loaded cards such as Revolut. Case workers from Wiltshire Council will be able to help refugees open these.
Wiltshire Council have a dedicated email ([email protected]) for all enquiries.
Voluntary Sector Emergency Partnership has been set up, and urged people not to donate goods but to donate money through appropriate channels – DEC or https://www.wiltshirecf.org.uk/about/welcome-fund/