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What's in this issue?
In this issue:
- My experience as a guest under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, by Julia
- New ESOL Qualifications (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and courses to help reduce costs this winter
- Community events coming up over the next month
If there are any articles or information you would like including in future issues please do not hesitate to contact us with your suggestions.
Please do remember that you can contact the Ukraine Support Team either by calling 0300 300 8855 or emailing homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
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My experience as a guest under the Homes for Ukraine scheme
By Yulia
When I arrived in England for the first time, like any person who has dramatically changed their life, I was a little at a loss. I didn’t know what awaited me, whether I could adapt and how quickly. Will my children be comfortable? There were a huge number of worries about communication and problems with language.
I am very lucky with my sponsors - my second favourite family. I am so grateful to Bruce and Lynn and their beautiful children Iona, Aron and Lauren. These are wonderful people who were not afraid to open the doors of their homes and their hearts to complete strangers.
My dear sponsors are people with huge hearts. Every weekend, when the opportunity arises, they organise excursions to interesting places in England. I was born in the city of Odessa, on the shores of the Black Sea. And of course, like any resident of a seaside city, I really wanted to go to the sea and breathe in the fresh sea breeze.
And my sponsors made this dream come true. We went to the Sutton-on-Sea coast with our whole large family. It was a beautiful beach, very similar to the sandy beach at my home in Odessa. We sunbathed, swam, enjoying a wonderful vacation.
Many thanks to the Central Bedfordshire Council team for their support. Thank you very much for the opportunity to study at Bedford College and improve my English language skills. Thank you so much again for everything you do for us.
One of my next steps is to improve my English for better communication. Maybe I'll try to change jobs. And in the future, after the end of this terrible war, I want to return to my hometown. And I will look forward to my favourite sponsors visiting me. I am sure that I will also have something to surprise them in Ukraine.
Thanks to Yulia for sharing her experiences as a guest, and thank you to all our sponsors who have been making such a difference.
If you know anyone who would like to become a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, please ask them to get in touch with us by calling 0300 300 8855 or emailing our Ukraine Support Team on: homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
News and updates
What's new from Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy?
New: ESOL Qualifications (English for Speakers of Other Languages) from November 2023
If English isn’t your first language, an ESOL course can help you improve your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. ESOL courses will help you build confidence with the English language in the community: for everyday life, education and employment.
The next ESOL enrolment day will be held on Wednesday 13 December at Bedford Borough Hall (room TBC), from 10am to 2pm. The next courses are starting in January and February in Bedford and Houghton Regis. Anyone interested can come along to learn more about the programme and receive support to enrol.
New: Courses to help with costs this winter
Make Your Own Draft Excluder: This a one off 2 hour workshop to practise your sewing skills to make a draft excluder, that you can take home to use when you finish the course! All you have to do is find some old clothes/dried rice or lentils to ‘stuff’ your draft excluder when you take it home at the end of the session! No sewing experience or a machine is necessary as the tutor will provide a step-by-step guide, a needle, thread and some fabric!
It is estimated that draft excluders can save households £50 to £80 off their energy bills a year, savings which could go towards something else, like a day trip or a food shop.
Repair What You Wear: This is a 3 week series of 2 hour workshops learning basic sewing techniques to help people mend clothes that need fixing. No sewing machine is needed – a trusty needle and thread are provided to get you started.
Also available:
- 2 hour workshops covering cost of living support, budgeting and saving, borrowing and debt, and making the most of your money
- 4-week courses covering becoming savvy with supermarket and retail shopping, and cutting costs in the kitchen
Community events
Ukraine Support Team coffee mornings
Would you like to meet new friends, other guests from Ukraine and find out what is available in the community? The next Ukraine Support Team coffee mornings are as follows:
Biggleswade Youth Centre, 137 Mead End, Biggleswade, SG18 8JU
- Tuesday 21 November – 10am until 11:30am
- Tuesday 5 December – 10am until 11:30am
- Tuesday 19 December – 10am until 11:30am
Dunstable Downside Neighbourhood Centre, Oakwood Avenue, Dunstable, LU5 4AS
- Thursday 16 November – 9:30am until 11:30am
- Thursday 30 November – 9:30am until 11:30am
- Thursday 14 December – 9:30am until 11:30am
You don't need to book, you can just turn up! But if you would like some more information please call 0300 300 8855 or email: homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
Flitwick Christmas Market
There is a free Christmas market in Flitwick on Sunday 3 December between 9am and 3pm. It will take place at the Rufus Centre (Steppingley Road, MK45 1AH).
There's an opportunity to shop for local produce, gifts, and have mulled wine, mince pies and other refreshments in the cafe.
Find out about other festive events at the Rufus Centre, including a family Christmas party on Saturday 9 December and Breakfast with Santa on Saturday 23 December!
Dunstable Christmas Carols and Torchlight Procession
The annual Dunstable Christmas Carols and Torchlight Procession takes place on Friday 24 November from 7pm until 8:30pm.
Join 12 school choirs to sing carols, meet Father Christmas and watch the switch-on of the Christmas Tree lights, accompanied by a fantastic light show finale.
Find out more about the event on the Dunstable Town Council website.
Christmas events in Eaton Bray
St Mary's Church Christmas Fair
Saturday 18 November, midday to 3pm, St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray. 50p admission for adults, children are free. Lots of stalls to browse, and refreshments available.
A Festival for Christmas featuring South Beds Concert Band
Saturday 9 December, 2pm, St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray. Tickets cost £5. Phone the box office on: 01525 222283.
Eaton Bray Academy Christmas Fair
Sunday 3 December, midday to 3pm, Eaton Bray Academy. Fun stalls, crafts and more.
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