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Dear Sponsors and Guests,
What's in this issue?
- Why I became a Homes for Ukraine sponsor
- Do you know anyone who is interested in becoming a sponsor?
- News and updates
- How our Information, Advice and Guidance service can help you
- Free activities this summer for children eligible for benefit related free school meals
- Going to have bored kids this summer? We can help!
- Community events
- Free drop in sessions in Biggleswade
- Other support
- Don't forget about our website
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Why I became a Homes for Ukraine sponsor
By Karin, Homes for Ukraine sponsor
My husband and I decided to join the Homes for Ukraine scheme when we witnessed the terrible situation unfolding in Ukraine and realised we had the space to accommodate people fleeing the war.
As soon as we spoke with Luba and Lidia (our guests) I realised what lovely people they were and how genuine their need was. We spoke every day and had another video call with them after our house inspection when we knew we were allowed to sponsor them.
Their first day here felt very emotional - they had a long journey and their original flight was cancelled, so by the time we finally met them at Stansted Airport they were very tired. We brought them home, showed them around our house and ate dinner together.
Although mum didn’t speak English her daughter spoke English well. We also managed to communicate through a translation app. It has been a wonderful aid and we’ve had some great conversations with it, it’s even been a good ice-breaker when it has translated something incorrectly and we’ve all had a good laugh.
Once they’d settled in, we set about registering them with our GP, applying for National Insurance numbers, opening bank accounts and collecting their free SIM cards. They also applied for a Biometric resident permit and universal credit. They also received £200 each from the government and £50 from the Red Cross.
The local authority has been very supportive. Our Ukraine support Officer checks in with us every month and she’s really friendly and on the ball.
Our guests integrated well into UK life here - they quickly learned how to use the bus and train and their English has improved rapidly. They have both found jobs and we share the housework and cooking. We’ve been very lucky as we all get on well together and we have included them in our family life where possible.
It has been a bit tricky sometimes with the language barrier, but we have found plenty of common ground and the translation apps have been a godsend.
I think everyone in our family has found it a rewarding and enriching experience. We have both learnt lots of interesting things about our different cultures and we have made lifelong friends.
I know that our guests want to return to Ukraine when it is safe for them to do so, but we have told them they can stay here as long as they need to.
If anyone is considering hosting I would definitely encourage it - as a mother of four children and a grandmother I would want someone to help my family if we were in similar circumstances. Through absolutely no fault of their own these brave and strong people have had their lives turned upside down. I would advise having a couple of video calls with your guests to get to know each other.
We are grateful for the support of all of our sponsors. If you know anyone who is interested in becoming a sponsor, please pass on the contact details for our Ukraine Support Team:
Call: 0300 300 8855
Email: homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
News and updates
How our information, advice and guidance can help you
We can provide information, advice, and guidance to anyone looking to get into work, learning or exploring a change of career.
It's free for those who are over 19 years old (or those who are 18 years old and not in education, employment, or training), and live in the local area.
Our dedicated advisors can provide one to one or group support around:
- CV writing
- job applications
- interview skills
- job searching
- career change
- career progression
- support with searching for learning opportunities
We offer face-to-face appointments in set locations across the county, but can also schedule sessions on Microsoft Teams or on the phone.
In addition to individual appointments, we provide free employability workshops, for anyone over 19 years old who lives in Central Bedfordshire. The three hour workshop is designed to be fun and interactive, focusing on a range of activities to support with employability.
A recent attendee said:
The employability workshop is one of the best I have ever had regarding career coaching training. I am impressed by the insight, expertise in the subject matter, and the professional manner in delivering. I can immediately use the knowledge I have gained for job applications.
For more information on our services please complete this contact form.
Free activities this summer for children eligible for benefit related free school meals
Have you heard of our holiday activities and food (HAF) programme? It provides fun, free activities for children and young people aged 5 and upwards.
The programme is for children eligible for benefit related free school meals.
There's always a range of activities on offer, including sports and games sessions, craft and creative activities and fun days out. Healthy snacks and lunch are also provided to all children and young people attending face-to-face activities.
If your children are eligible, you should now be able to book activities for them this summer. Your child's school should have assigned a voucher to you, which you can use to book on to activities online. You will need to look out for an email or text message from HolidayActivities.com.
Find out more about our HAF programme.
If you think you should have received a HAF voucher but have not, please contact your child's school.
Going to have bored kids this summer? We can help!
This summer there are plenty of activities for children and families taking place across Central Bedfordshire, including activities at our libraries, outdoor activities so you and your family can make the most of the wonderful outdoor space in Central Bedfordshire, and activities especially for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Community events
Drop-in sessions in Biggleswade
Our Ukraine Support Team are running drop-in sessions at Biggleswade Children's Centre every other fortnight from 9:30am unril 12:30pm.
The team can sort out any enquiries there and then and have lots of other useful information available. You'll also be able to meet other guests, and are welcome to stay for a hot drink and a chat.
The next visits are:
- Tuesday 1 August
- Tuesday 15 August
- Tuesday 29 August
The address for Biggleswade Children’s Centre is: 137 Mead End, Biggleswade, SG18 8JU.
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