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Dear Sponsors and Guests,
It has been a rather wet and windy month, and we hope you have managed to stay safe and dry during the awful storms and floods we have experienced across the county.
Just a little while longer before the days stay lighter for longer, the temperature starts to rise, and we see the flowers begin to grow.
I want to share with you some very important news. As of Monday 1 April, the Ukraine Support Team and Ukraine Data Hub will be consolidating their resources to ensure that we can continue to provide much needed support to our guests, sponsors, and hosts.
Simon, Claire, and I will no longer be part of the Ukraine response, but the great news is that Iryna will be moving over to the Data Hub to continue in her role as Ukraine Support Officer.
So, what will it mean for you?
Iryna and the Data Hub team will still be able to support guests with bus and leisure passes, welcome and ‘thank you’ payments, housing needs and complex issues. The Coffee and Chat sessions in Biggleswade and Dunstable will also continue.
The telephone number and email address will stay live but will be diverted to the Data Hub.
There is also support available on our website, which can be translated to Ukrainian or Russian and can also provide audio translation.
Find out more about the support available for sponsors and guests
Find out more about Council Tax
Find out more about housing and how we can support you
Find out more about waste and recycling
Find out more about transport, roads and parking
As mentioned in the previous newsletter, the government is continuing the Homes for Ukraine sponsor ‘thank you’ payments for up to three years after a guest (or guests) have arrived in the UK for the first time.
We have taken the decision to continue to increase the standard rate from £350 for those guests who have been in the UK for less than a year and £500 for those here longer than 12 months to £600 a month as a reflection of our appreciation for the value we place on your help and support being offered to our guests. Thank you for your continued support.
This will also be the last issue of the newsletter that we send out, although please be assured that we will make you aware of any important updates if they arise.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the future and pray for peace in Ukraine.
Mel Goult, Ukraine Support Team Manager
News, updates and events
Important update to the Homes for Ukraine scheme
You may have seen in the national press recently changes to the Homes for Ukraine scheme announced by the government confirming the extension for those resident in the UK:
- Guests in the UK on a 36-month Homes for Ukraine visa will be eligible to extend their visa for a further 18 months. This extension can be applied for when there is 3 months remaining on the current visa.
In addition to this change, it has also been announced that from 3pm on Monday 19 February 2024, the UK government has made the following changes to the Ukraine visa schemes:
- All new Homes for Ukraine scheme visas will be for the duration of 18 months and not the current 36 months
- New sponsors on the Homes for Ukraine scheme must be either a British or Irish citizen, or settled in the UK (for example, by holding Indefinite Leave to Remain, which includes ‘settled status’ from the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS))
- The Ukraine Family scheme has been closed to all new applications
Any application submitted prior to 3pm on Monday 19 February 2024 will not be impacted by these changes and all existing sponsorships and hosting arrangement will remain unaffected at this time.
Everyone Fitness membership
We can support guests only with a membership for Everyone Active. We will fund the cost of the Everyone Fitness membership which costs £34.99.
You will need to pay for the membership yourself in advance, and then every month send a screen grab to send a screen shot to homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk, who will arrange for you to be reimbursed for the cost.
The offer is only for the Everyone Fitness membership – if you would like to upgrade to a different membership, you will need to pay the remaining extra charges.
Find out more about Everyone Active.
Weekly community cafe in Ampthill
There is a weekly Community Cafe and Hub at The Methodist Church in Ampthill each Thursday from 10:30am to 1:30pm.
The cafe is open to everyone, including anyone struggling with loneliness, isolation or bereavement, or any carers that may need a break.
People are already making friendships over a free cuppa with cake and now soup lunches.
If you would be interested in attending one of the sessions, please email Nicola at respiteathomevolunteers@aol.co.uk.
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 5 March – 10am until midday
- Tuesday 19 March – 10am until midday
Dunstable Downside Neighbourhood Centre, Oakwood Avenue, Dunstable LU5 4AS
Thursday 29 February – 9:30am until 11:30am
Thursday 14 March – 9:30am until 11:30am
Thursday 28 March – 9:30am until 11:30amIf 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