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Dear Sponsors and Guests,
Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you smiling and ready to tackle whatever comes your way in 2024.
We are thrilled to have you, both our sponsors and our guests, as an integral part of our community, and all of the Ukraine Support Team is wishing you a year full of shared experiences, laughter, and moments that create lasting memories.
Mel Goult, Ukraine Support Team Manager
P.S. Don't forget: 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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Getting to know the Ukraine Support Team
Claire Catling - Ukrainian Support Liaison Officer
What made you want to join the Ukraine Support Team?
I saw it as an opportunity for a role where I could help and support guests and sponsors, and I was interested in being part of an evolving team and wanted to be part of building the team. I also thought that it would be a new challenge, with lots of different enquiries every daily.
What do you enjoy most or are you most proud of about this role?
I am so proud of the way the team work together and everybody is willing to help each other, and establishing the Dunstable coffee morning and getting that up and running. I'm also proud of the help that we can offer to guests at this really difficult time for them.
What makes you smile/happy?
A sunny, frosty day. Dog cuddles! And this job, I love every day of it.
What is your favourite thing to do, or place to go in Central Bedfordshire?
I love walking, so visiting lakes and woods, and I also love Whipsnade Zoo.
Simon Stothard - Ukrainian Support Liaison Officer
What made you want to join the Ukraine Support Team?
I wanted to help people in need, and in my own small way try to do something positive following the invasion of Ukraine.
What do you enjoy most or are you most proud of about this role?
Achieving positive outcomes for our guests, big and small. Things like helping them move into their own property and becoming fully independent, or helping them have build a positive relationship with their sponsor.
What makes you smile/happy?
We receive really nice thankful messages from our guests and hosts and that always raises a smile.
What is your favourite thing to do, or place to go in Central Bedfordshire?
Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Tree Cathedral.
News, updates and events
We've enjoyed meeting you at our coffee mornings
Over the course of the last 12 months the Dunstable Downside Neighbourhood Centre and Biggleswade Youth Centre have been host to coffee morning sessions, with the Ukraine Support Group in attendance to give advice and guidance to sponsors and guests. Attending these fortnightly sessions, guests are able to access support on a number of important issues such as housing, benefits, transport and work.
Our coffee mornings are a relaxed environment where people can help themselves to a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit (and sometimes cake) and get to know each other and have a chat about their home in the Ukraine as well as their experience so far living in Central Bedfordshire and the UK. On average, six to seven guests attend each session and have found the experience rewarding.
One of our regular visitors to Biggleswade, Valentyna, said: “We are very interested in these meetings, where we can solve many problems related to housing, work and school. Even just to communicate in our native language with other Ukrainians, and our children can play with other children - this is of great importance to us.
I was in despair, because I was almost left on the street with my son and mother in a foreign country, but the Ukraine Support Team found a way out of this situation and helped us. I am infinitely grateful to your team for their help, support and advice.
Lesia, one of the regulars at the Dunstable session, said:
I want to sincerely thank The Ukraine Support Team for organising such wonderful meetings for us, I am happy to attend them. The team are always friendly, always helps in whatever way he can and gives useful advice.
When I come to such meetings, I get not only help and support, but also pleasure from great communication with a friendly and professional team and other Ukrainians. Thank so much the whole Ukraine Support Team for everything you do.
The Ukraine Support Team greatly enjoy the coffee morning sessions, assisting guests as well as facilitating a nice social and supportive environment. Claire from the team said:
Meeting the guests and sponsors and being able to make a difference has been one of the most enjoyable experiences. Also, experiencing the interaction of the guests and seeing them laughing and sharing stories together has been very rewarding.
I have helped guests complete housing register applications, upload documents, apply for bus and leisure passes, and deal with queries around council tax and other utility bills.
The coffee mornings are a good opportunity to meet the Ukraine Support Team, face to face and get any support required. Talking face to face is sometimes easier, so please don’t be put off by the language barrier as we have translation tools if our Ukrainian speaking colleague is not available at the session.
Future coffee morning dates
If you would like join in on one of the coffee morning sessions, you're more than welcome to meet the team on the following dates:
Biggleswade Youth Centre, 137 Mead End, Biggleswade, SG18 8JU
- Tuesday 6 February: 10am until midday
- Tuesday 20 February: 10am until midday
- Tuesday 5 March: 10am until midday
- Tuesday 19 March: 10am until midday
Dunstable Downside Neighbourhood Centre, Oakwood Avenue, Dunstable, LU5 4AS
- Thursday 1 February: 9:30am until 11:30am
- Thursday 15 February: 9:30am until 11:30am
- Thursday 29 February: 9:30am until 11:30am
- Thursday 14 March: 9:30am until 11:30am
- Thursday 28 March: 9:30am until 11:30am
If you would like some more information please call 0300 300 8855 or email: homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
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