Find below the latest update of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Sponsors and Guests: As of 28th June, a total of 1,241 Ukrainians have been matched with 492 sponsors across Warwickshire. Of that total, 653 have arrived in the UK and the others will be in the process of having visas approved and arranging travel.
Homes for Ukraine Scheme community support: The Communities and Partnerships Team delivered a successful event at Wellesbourne Village Hall on 23rd June. Colleagues from various services such as Family Information Service, NHS, Libraries and Citizens Advice Bureau had stalls with information and provided advice to all the attendees. The event was also attended by the Warwickshire High Sherriff, Councillor Anne Parry and Councillor Penny-Anne O’Donnell.
The team are planning further events which include three channels of engagement:
1. Welcome to Warwickshire Events
2. Meetings with community support groups including town and parish councils, and
3. Webinars with sponsors and guests.
Homes for Ukraine Webinars for guests and sponsors :
We are arranging further webinars for guests and sponsors. The webinars will give an opportunity to guests and sponsors to ask the Homes for Ukraine Support team any questions relating to available support. Guests and sponsors will also be able to give feedback on the scheme. Colleagues from various departments including housing, education, Family Information Service will join the sessions to answer any queries. The dates are listed below:
- Monday 18 July 7pm-9pm
- Monday 8 August 7pm - 9pm
- Thursday 11 August 7pm – 9pm
To join, please register here.
Health including Mental Wellbeing: Clinical Commissioning Group Commissioners continue to be fully cited to the database of live Ukrainian arrivals in order to plan primary care delivery. A Ukrainian speaking GP based in Rugby is triaging refugees living in Rugby Borough. Regarding mental health service provision – usual routes via Wellbeing for Warwickshire services (open access mental health support) are available for guests and sponsors, as are crisis and secondary care mental health services.
A short guide/leaflet has been produced with services available. It is available in both languages, English and Ukrainian on the website. The leaflet also features lower-level support such as walking and talking services.
Agreement has been made for commissioning individual trauma/specialised therapy via the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre for individuals who may need this.
Family Information Service support:
- 83 Welfare Check visits were completed in June, 96 visits to be booked in July
- 373 telephone calls received into the Ukraine Helpline, on average around 20 emails answered daily.
We have recruited additional officers to manage the demands within the Service. These include Brokerage Officers, Business Support staff and a Team Leader.
We have received several questions on our helpline, via email and during our home visits. The subject of these questions has been around Payments, Universal Credit, Bus Passes, school transport, school admissions, food bank vouchers, mental health wellbeing, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision, universal credit, Biometric Residence Permit, parental consent for unaccompanied children, national insurance number, child benefit. Information is available on our website and we are updating this regularly.
We continue to make the £200 interim payments to guests. Over £100,000 of interim payments have been issued to guests arriving in Warwickshire and we continue to pay the £350 per month payments to lead sponsors as soon as the checks are completed.
Comms: We have updated and redesigned the Education section for the Homes for Ukraine webpage. There are more resources and information about the county council’s local support to Ukrainians. The Facebook group has now 697 members. It has been a helpful channel to issue information regarding the scheme as well as an effective channel for members to communicate and share their experiences. A news release has been issued to communicate the scheme and promote the webinars.
Schools: Schools are continuing to admit children and young people through the central admissions team. Kerry Brabazon (kerrybrabazon@warwickshire.gov.uk) is the point of contact for schools should they have any queries with free school meals, transport or commissioning Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service support.
Skills/Work: A large number of employers have now signed up to be a Fair Chance Employer with the Employability and Skills team and skills advisors to shaping relevant roles. There are a good mix or employment opportunities across the county from industries such as Health and Social Care, Retail, Hospitality, Property Management, distribution, public sector, Leisure and tourism.
In the weeks to come the Warwickshire Community Skills Hubs will be hosting activities to connect Ukrainian communities to the roles and evaluate barriers into work such a ESOL and right to work documentation.
The Welcome to Warwickshire Employment Programme is also taking shape, however ESOL is presenting as the priority need with employability skills needs to follow.
Contact Details for the Homes for Ukraine Support Teams:
- Email for General Enquiries: ukraine@warwickshire.gov.uk
- Telephone Number for General Enquiries: 0800 408 1447
- Email for the Disclosure and Barring Service: UkraineDBS@warwickshire.gov.uk
- Email for Payment Enquiries: UkrainePayments@warwickshire.gov.uk
- Email for Rematching Enquiries: ukrainerematching@warwickshire.gov.uk
