Update for those supporting refugees from Ukraine – 29 September 2022
Dear hosts, volunteer coordinators and parish council colleagues
If this is the first time you are receiving this ‘Support for Ukraine community update’ from us as a host, please note that we send these out on a regular basis. They are issued whenever new and relevant information becomes available to hosts in South Cambridgeshire as well as to District Councillors, community coordinators and parish council colleagues. The idea is to share the latest updates that we have to support for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
All information previously shared can be found on our Support for Ukraine webpage – where you will also find our ‘Ukrainian Guest information hub’ which we encourage you to share with your guests. The online information hub is our equivalent of a ‘Welcome pack’ for guests (we are sharing information digitally so that we are able to keep our information regularly updated, and guests should be able to switch to view in their own language if they wish).
Please note that in addition to these emails, all hosts will receive information from us relating to DBS checks, accommodation checks, £350 monthly host and £350 one-off guest payments; hosts should already have received information from us about this through our welcome email.
For any questions not covered in this e-newsletter or on our Support for Ukraine webpages, please email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk
Additional optional £150 monthly payment to hosts
In last week’s newsletter, we mentioned additional £150 optional payments for hosts in the South Cambridgeshire District Council area to help them with the extra expenditure associated with hosting due to the rising cost of living. We are now contacting hosts directly with more details.
Rematching guests to new hosts
We are fast approaching the point where many Ukrainian refugees who came to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme are reaching the end of their initial six-month hosting period. While some guests will be able to continue in their hosted environment, others may not be able to do so.
Currently, if a guest is unable to carry on in their hosted environment at the six-month mark, then the main option for finding them new accommodation is, as requested by the Government, by rematching them to a new host.
We are currently working on alternative options to support guests when they move on from being hosted. Under the current scheme this is likely to be around the 12-month mark.
When rematching a guest to a new host, our rematching team will do everything within their power to find a new host that is close to any existing employment or school places that the guest may have secured. While we do try our hardest to consider these commitments, it is not always possible to meet these needs. This also means we cannot accept requests where a guest has asked to be relocated into a specific location, as this is not fair on other guests who may need a rematch in this area due to existing schools or job requirements.
Once a suitable rematch has been located, an inspection will be carried out on the property and a DBS check will be completed on the new host. When these two checks have been completed, the guest is then able to move into the new property. A welfare check will then be arranged after the guest has been with the new host for around two weeks.
Our pool of potential hosts for rematching is limited, therefore if you are aware of anyone who may potentially be interested in becoming a host, please encourage them to contact us on HFULiaison@scambs.gov.uk
Ukrainian Employment Survey
As you are already aware, the Government has confirmed that Ukrainian refugees are able to work in the UK for up to three years. South Cambridgeshire District Council is collaborating with local partners, communities, and businesses to ensure that we understand the barriers Ukrainian guests are facing in finding suitable employment. Can hosts please help us by making their guests aware of the following survey. By guests completing it, this will help us provide the most appropriate support possible.
CAUTION Advised: Facebook groups
At South Cambridgeshire District Council, we appreciate the importance of community Facebook groups. These are invaluable tools for residents and guests to receive quick information from other members of the district. However, we wanted to ask both Ukrainian guests and hosts to remain vigilant when browsing these groups, as the information they convey is not always correct.
If you have queries in relation to any processes or services relating to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, or support you can receive, the best place for accurate information is either through us, or directly with other organisations providing a service. We want to ensure that both hosts and guests are fully informed with accurate and correct information. If you have doubts or queries, please contact us on Duty.Communitites@scambs.gov.uk
English language courses – places available
Places are still currently available on some autumn online ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) courses provided by the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association). These English courses have been developed especially for speakers of other languages/refugees to help them find a job in the UK.
Please draw these courses to the attention of any guests who you think might benefit from them. Anyone interested in the courses below can register either online by clicking on the link below or over the phone on 0300 303 34 64.
Cambridgeshire – Welcome to the UK C2229132
Start date: 14/10/2022, Fridays 10am via Zoom
This course is designed to help learners have a good understanding of British culture, history, traditions, laws, and customs and to feel confident about living in the UK and participating in community life.
Cambridgeshire – Supporting Employment Opportunities for ESOL Learners C2229133
Start date: 14/10/2022, Fridays 12.30pm via Zoom
This course will support students by assisting and giving confidence to ESOL learners to progress to find employment or to go into Further Education and also to develop their employment prospects and confidence.
Cambridgeshire – Employability Skills for ESOL Learners C2229068
Started on 20/09/2022, Tuesdays 10am via Zoom.
This course will help students who are new to the UK to apply for jobs, giving them support and guidance to compile a CV and covering letter and to practice the interview skills, with hints and tips on how to manage nerves and come across more positively to an interviewer. Students will be fully supported to apply for jobs and will be guided in the best places to find jobs advertised. (Please note, guests can still enrol on this course until the end of this week, but should be aware they have missed the first two sessions).
There are also places still available too on English Classes at Sawston and Cottenham which we are working to provide together with A Learning Place Ltd. They are available to Ukrainian guests of all ages (secondary school age young people are welcome to enrol as learners, while younger children are welcome to attend with their parents):
Cottenham Beginner Plus Class
Tuesdays 5.30pm- 6.30pm. Ideal for those who know a little English already – even if it was learnt at school in the dim and distant past!
Sawston General Conversation class
Thursdays 4.15pm- 5.15pm. Mixed ability conversation class providing an opportunity to hone and develop speaking skills in a structured, supportive environment.
Sawston Beginner/Improver Conversation Class
Thursdays 5.30pm- 6.30pm. This class focuses on helping learners to develop the spoken English skills for day-to-day life. Ideal for beginners or less confident learners.
Please contact Amy at hello@alearningplace.co.uk or on 07753 282967, or complete the registration form at https://bit.ly/ALP-English-classes
Clothes Shop for Ukrainians – donations required
Free clothes are available for Ukrainian guests at a pop-up clothes shop in Sawston. The shop urgently needs donations of good quality winter clothing – warm coats, raincoats, gloves, trousers, sweaters, scarves, woolly hats, etc. Donations of unopened new socks and thick tights will also be very welcome.
Donations can be dropped off at Sawston Free Church between 4-6pm every Thursday and Friday. The shop is open for Ukrainians to choose clothes only on every second and fourth Friday of the month from 4pm to 6pm. These are the only times that it is possible to see and get clothes.
Please could hosts tell their friends about the opportunity to make donations of winter clothes and tell their guests about the shop.
Free Admission to National Trust Properties
Guests and hosts who have taken advantage of the free Community Group Admission Pass to Wimpole Hall near Cambridge will know how enjoyable and beneficial to health and wellbeing a day out at a local National Trust property can be.
Now the National Trust is offering a named 6-month free admission pass to all adult refugees, allowing access to many of the charity’s sites around the country. The pass will also cover all children under the age of 18 and enable refugees to visit independently of the host family they are living with. If the recipient of the pass is here for longer than 6 months, they can apply for a new pass once their existing one expires. Passes should be received within two to three weeks of application.
Hosts can request a 6-month named pass for refugees living with a non NT member by emailing supporter.operations@nationaltrust.org.uk including the names of their guests, their address and whether they need an individual adult or family pass.
Community Groups can also request single use passes for visits to National Trust properties for refugees they are hosting, asking for two passes per person up to a max of 100 people. Please ask your Community Group representative to email supporter.operations@nationaltrust.org.uk with their request for the single use access passes. They must state the number of passes they need (two passes per person up to a max of 100 people, so a maximum of 200 passes in total) and the name and the address of where the passes should be sent to. Single use access passes do not need to be named and the Community Group representative does not need to be an active NT member to request the passes.
You can find out more about some of the beautiful and varied National Trust sites around the country which you can visit with these amazing free pass offers at www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Many thanks for reading this latest bulletin, which I hope will be helpful for you and your guests. We are grateful for your continued support for the Homes for Ukraine programme.
Bill
Bill Handley
Lead Cabinet Member for Communities
South Cambridgeshire District Council