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Dear Sponsors and Guests,
Welcome to the second issue of our newsletter for sponsors and guests - we hope you found the first issue useful.
Since our first edition we have been busy building our team, our knowledge and our relationships. We have had the pleasure of speaking to many of you on the phone or via email and we are learning more and more every day of what we can do to support you in the coming weeks and months.
We are here to listen, to guide and support both sponsors and guests as you navigate your way around this unprecedented situation and the challenges this offers. Whether it be financial issues, schooling, free school meals, travel, English lessons or employment, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will do our very best to find a solution or to signpost you in the right direction.
We have been delighted this week to hear some very heart-warming and positive stories. Sponsors supporting their guests to settle into life in a strange country, guests succeeding in finding employment, young adults passing exams in the midst of all the upheaval. We would love to hear more success stories if you would like to share them with us so we will include them in future editions.
If you need anything in the meantime, you can call us on 0300 300 8855 or email us on homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
Mel Goult, Ukraine Support Team Manager
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News and updates
Sponsor webinar – 29 September, at 7pm
We’re pleased to invite you to a Sponsors webinar, being hosted by our Chief Executive Marcel Coiffait.
The webinar will take place on Microsoft Teams on Thursday 29 September at 7pm. It will give you an opportunity to meet the people who have been running the Council’s response to the Ukraine crisis and ask any questions you may have – from the processes involved in setting up the scheme, to information about extending your sponsorship arrangements and how to do this.
While there will be a chat function available so you can ask questions on the night, we’d welcome questions in advance so we can make sure the webinar covers the topics that are important to you.
If you’d like to attend, please complete the form to let us know. We’ll then supply you with a link nearer the time – you’ll need to have access to Microsoft Teams to attend.
Although this is a webinar primarily for sponsors, your guests are welcome to join you. We look forward to welcoming you on 29 September.
Welcome guide for Ukrainian children under 18
The government has published an introductory welcome guide for children under 18 who are moving from Ukraine to England under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. This guide is available in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
The guide is aimed at those who are not travelling with or joining a parent or legal guardian. The guide is a starting point and includes information about arriving and living in the UK, including where Ukrainian children can go for help if they have any problems.
You can read the guidance on the government's website.
Extending your sponsorship arrangements
Many hosts want to continue with their sponsorship arrangement beyond six months. We are extremely grateful for the support of sponsors and ask that they consider hosting their guests for as long as they can, particularly those that are coming up to their fourth month of sponsoring.
Don’t forget that thank you payments are available for sponsors, for the first 12 months of a guest’s time in the UK. If you continue to host, you are eligible to receive thank you payments for the remaining months that you host. There is also more guidance for sponsors available on the government’s website, and support available locally.
If you are unable to continue your sponsorship arrangement beyond six months, we ask that you give your guests two months’ notice and contact us two months before the arrangement ends to let us know.
If your sponsorship isn’t working out, or you are worried it is about to end, before six months have passed, please contact us as soon as possible.
Community events
Free 'English in the Community' sessions
This October, Noah Academy is running a free 'English in the Community' course, for people aged 19+. The specialist course will help learners further their language, develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills and cover topics including:
- Understanding diverse ways to greet people
- Understanding form filing
- Recognising common and social safety signs
- Understanding various social situations within the community
The course will take place in Biggleswade on Mondays and Wednesdays in October, from 12:45pm until 3:45pm. To book, email academy@noahenterprise.org or call 01234 863 123.
Free CV and job interview workshop
Want to know more about what a CV should look like, and what to expect at a job interview? We are running a free session at Biggleswade Youth Centre, Mead End, SG18 8JU on Tuesday 8 November from 11am until midday.
Contact Cathy or Max for further information, by calling 0300 300 8114
Recruitment day at Center Parcs
Center Parcs is holding a recruitment open day at its Woburn site on Saturday 24 September from 10am to 2pm. It has vacancies in a number of different areas. Visit Center Parcs's website to find out more, or register for the event.
Other resources and support
Resources from Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK has had some of its key films and information resources on supporting children around issues related to bereavement translated into Ukrainian.
The films and resources cover a range of topics including how children grieve, supporting a child after a frightening event and there are animations available to help children understand and cope with difficult feelings.
You can find the films on the charity’s website.
Don't forget about our website!
Don’t forget about our website! We have created a whole section which covers the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, initial support for guests, how to access financial support including Universal Credit, as well as information about education, training, how to set up a bank account, health and wellbeing. Most of our website can be translated into Ukrainian.
Find out more and see what information we have available,
Contacting the Ukraine Support Team
Call: 0300 300 8855