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Dear Sponsors and Guests,
As we near the anniversary of Russia’s invasion I want to start this issue by remembering and paying tribute to the people of Ukraine, those who have sadly lost their lives, those still fighting for their country and those who have had to leave their homes and family.
Guests, we can only imagine the pain and suffering you have endured over the last 12 months. We continue to stand by the people of Ukraine and we are here to support you as you continue your new lives in Central Bedfordshire.
Sponsors, you have been instrumental in us being able to continue our support of guests and for this we truly thank you.
A national minute’s silence will take place at 11am on Friday 24 February to mark the one-year anniversary with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expected to lead the nation in silence from Downing Street.
We are also arranging a webinar for guests, which will take place on 16 March from 6pm to 7pm. Many of the teams who are working with both sponsors and guests will be in attendance and will update us on the support they can offer. There will be an opportunity to send in any questions prior to the webinar, so please keep this date free in your diaries and more details will follow.
Please do remember that you can contact the Ukraine Support Team either by calling 0300 300 8855 or emailing homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Mel Goult, Ukraine Support Team Manager
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Ukrainians who changed the world
By Iryna Kanyuka, Ukrainian Support Liaison Officer
Ukraine has given the world more than one famous name! Which of the below do you recognise, and did you know of their links to the country?
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg is an American film director, writer and producer. Spielberg's paternal grandparents were Jews from Ukraine, who settled in Cincinnati in the 1900s; his grandmother was from Sudylkiv, and his grandfather was from Kamianets-Podilskyi. According to Variety, last year he and his wife donated $1 million to support humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
Max Levchin
Born in Kyiv, Max Levchin co-founded, along with Peter Theil, the system that is now PayPal and used across the world. He moved to Chicago at the age of 16, and settled there, eventually gaining a degree in computer science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Solomiya Krushelnytska
Born in 1872, in the village of Bielawińce (now Biliavyntsi) in Ukraine, Solomiya Krushelnytska was an opera singer - a soprano - and people from a huge number of European cities admired her voice. Her Wikipedia page states that she was 'considered to be one of the brightest opera stars of the first half of the 20th century'.
Milla Jovovich
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, she lived in Russia before she and her parents emigrated to London when she was 5, before later settling in Los Angeles, USA. She rose to fame after her role in the 1997 film The Fifth Element. She also starred as Alice in the film franchise Resident Evil, which became the highest-grossing film series to be based on video games.
Volodymyr the Great
Grand Prince of Kyiv, ruler, and baptizer of Kyivan Rus, one of the most prominent state leaders of Ukraine-Rus. He was also known as St. Volodymyr, Volodymyr the Baptizer, and Volodymyr the Red Sun.
His reign in 980-1015 is considered the beginning of the prosperity of Kyivan Rus, and the prince was called one of the brightest politicians in Europe at that time. Prince Volodymyr Sviatoslavych was the first of the Kyivan princes to start minting his own money, and the 'trident' symbol depicted on them became the emblem of Ukraine in the 20th century.
News and updates
Help with your childcare costs
Did you know that the government can support you with childcare costs? Tax-free childcare gives support to working parents earning up to £100,000 individually. If you are eligible, the government will pay up to 20% of your childcare costs.
Whether you have toddlers or school aged children, you could get support with your childcare payments.
Find out about the support you could be entitled to.
Applying for a bus pass
Don't forget that guests in Central Bedfordshire as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme can apply for bus passes to use on their most used bus route, which might make getting to work or training courses easier. We are working with Arriva, Grant Palmer and Stagecoach.
Apply for a bus pass on our website. Before applying, please check the bus route that you will be travelling on and make a note of the bus operator for that route.
Community events
Informal English chat sessions
Flitwick Library is hosting informal learning sessions for Ukrainian guests who would like to improve their English. They will be held at Flitwick Library (15 Coniston Rd, Flitwick, MK45 1QL) from 6:30pm – 8pm every second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month.
Book your place by emailing theforumbgs@yahoo.co.uk or by texting 07749 815 737.
Drop in sessions in Biggleswade
We're hosting drop in sessions for sponsors and guests to give everyone an opportunity to socialise, find out about support and share information. Children are welcome and refreshments will be provided.Biggleswade Youth Centre, 137 Mead End, SG18 8JU
The next sessions are:
- 28 February: 10am until 11:30am
- 14 March: 10am until 11:30am
- 28 March: 10am until 11.30am
Please call 0300 300 8114 for more information.
Other resources and support
Lift Someone Out of Loneliness
Fancy a walk? Want to meet for a coffee?
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched their new loneliness campaign activity as part of the Better Health - Every Mind Matters campaign. It aims to encourage people to ‘Lift Someone Out of Loneliness’, knowing that this will likely help their own feelings of loneliness.
If you’re feeling lonely this winter, search ‘Every Mind Matters; for support and advice or go to the Every Mind Matters 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.
To find out more and see what information we have available, visit: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/ukraine-sponsors.
Contacting the Ukraine Support Team
Telephone: 0300 300 8855
Email: homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk