Lincolnshire will continue to support new arrivals and stand in solidarity with Ukraine on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.
Since March last year, 1,200 Ukrainians have made Lincolnshire their temporary home under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The Lincolnshire Resettlement Partnership, comprising of Lincolnshire councils and a range of public sector agencies and charitable sector organisations all working together, has been supporting local communities to offer people from Ukraine the warmest possible welcome to the county.
Councillor Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, Deputy Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank all those people in the county, past and present, who have given Ukrainian refugees a welcoming and safe temporary home during the past year. You have really stepped up to the plate for so many people who have lost their homes. And thanks to many of our schools who have stepped in at short notice to give children vital education and all local community support groups who’ve organised events and support for the warmest possible welcome into the county.
“It’s important that as a country we continue to stand together with Ukraine. Lincolnshire is proud to have welcomed more than 1,200 Ukrainians since the launch of the Homes for Ukraine scheme in March 2022. Together with our partners, we’ll continue to ensure Ukrainian arrivals and their host families can access the advice and support they need, as well as statutory services such as healthcare, education, benefits and council services.”
Nationally, more than 100,000 Ukrainians have arrived in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme since the outbreak of the war, and Lincolnshire is second highest in the East Midlands and 19th nationally in terms of number of arrivals in the UK by sponsor location.
People arriving under the scheme are able to live and work in the UK for up to three years, and access healthcare, public funds, employment and other support. Now, almost a year since the national sponsorship scheme launched, there are still 350 hosts providing a home to their Ukrainian guests across Lincolnshire. Throughout the county over 70 family groups have successfully made the move from their hosting arrangements into private rental accommodation, and a small number of guests have moved on to other parts of the UK.
Hosts on the scheme initially signed up for six months and whilst many hosting relationships will continue to a year and beyond, the Resettlement Partnership is strongly appealing for new hosts to come forward who may be a suitable match for Ukrainians already settled in the county. They are particularly interested in hearing from people who live within the district’s bigger villages and towns, where there is good access to public transport and other amenities.
Anyone can consider hosting as long as they can offer accommodation for at least six months, and those who are successfully matched to Ukrainian guests are offered a £350 per month ‘thank you’ payment, rising to £500 a month for guests who have been in the country for over a year. Ukrainians already established in Lincolnshire and requiring new hosts will already be living and settled within their local communities and may be in work, with children in school, minimising some of the challenges many new hosts on the scheme initially faced when supporting guests with connecting to services in the UK such as applying for biometric residence permits, accessing local and public services and opening bank accounts.
Jonny Hoare and his wife Emma from Rauceby have hosted two families on the scheme and were amongst the first hosts to welcome Ukrainian guests to Lincolnshire. Speaking of their involvement, Jonny said: “Helping people to help themselves is extremely rewarding. If you care about humanity then why wouldn’t you? You will also be left with some amazing memories and possibly even friends for life.”
Cllr Richard Wright, Leader of North Kesteven District Council and Lincolnshire representative on the East Midlands Migration Board said: “As we mark one year since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, an anniversary none of us ever wanted to see, we continue to show our unwavering support and solidarity to Ukrainians in our local community and beyond. Whilst we offer our sincere thanks to everyone who has opened their home to those fleeing the war in Ukraine, we also continue to appeal for new hosts across Lincolnshire.
“If you or someone you know could offer temporary accommodation to Ukrainians, please contact Lincolnshire County Council’s Homes for Ukraine team for more information.”
Many events are planned throughout Lincolnshire and residents across the county will be showing their support for Ukraine in their local communities.
On social media people across the country will also show their solidarity with Ukraine by sharing photos of Ukrainian flags around the UK to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Facebook page.
If you think you could commit to hosting, please visit https://lincolnshire.connecttosupport.org/advice-for-ukrainian-arrivals/sign-up-as-a-host/ to find out more and complete Lincolnshire County Council’s hosting expression of interest form.