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.
At South Cambridgeshire District Council, we have also taken the decision to make available additional ‘opt-in’ payments of £150 per month on top of the £350 payments. This is in recognition of the extra costs, particularly rising energy bills, currently being experienced by many households and impacting those hosting guests in their home. Please see the section Additional optional £150 host monthly payment on our website (scroll to half way down the page) for more information and how hosts can apply for the payment.
For any questions not covered in this e-newsletter or on our Support for Ukraine webpages, please email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk
Fun at the outdoor Forest School – *starts this weekend*
Fresh air, lots of fun activities and a chance to make friends are on the programme for a special outdoor Forest School being run at Milton Country Park and starting this weekend. The weekly sessions will run for seven weeks and are designed for children aged 8-11 from families who are registered under the Home for Ukraine (HfU) scheme in South Cambridgeshire.
The Forest School aims to encourage children to learn through hands-on experience in a natural setting to help develop their confidence and self-esteem. The programme includes bushcraft skills, playing games, making friends, building dens, pond dipping, treasure hunts and lots more. The sessions will be held at the Wild Place at Milton Country Park on Sunday mornings from 10am to 12 noon on November 6, 13, 20, 27, and December 4, 11 and 18. For more information or to register interest in attending, email to ufs@cambridgesportlakes.org.uk
In-person checks will start soon
We will be beginning the in-person checks with guests in line with Government requirements for the Homes for Ukraine scheme in the coming weeks. These will take place at around the time that a guest has been staying with a host for around six months. To facilitate these checks, Council staff will visit each host property. The visit will be very brief, but your support will be really appreciated. We may need to come into the property.
REMINDER: Leavers’ Form
We ask all current hosts to complete an online Leavers’ form when their guests vacate their property and also if they now know that their guests are no longer expected to arrive. This will ensure that we have the necessary information to make changes to host and guest records, as well as checking that welcome payments are properly administered. The form will take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.
Ukrainian Employment Survey
The Government has confirmed that Ukrainian refugees are able to work in the UK for up to three years. To enable South Cambridgeshire District Council to collaborate with local partners, communities, and businesses there is a need to understand and meet the challenges our Ukrainian guests face in finding suitable employment. We are therefore asking hosts to encourage their guests to complete the following survey to help us to provide the most appropriate support possible.
WEA courses for everyday life and work
WEA (Workers Educational Association) has two new online leaflets available, which detail courses aimed at improving everyday life and increasing job opportunities for guests. These range from ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses, to improving Maths and English skills, family and parenting packages to help guide children with their school work, and many more.
The Skills for Life and Work courses can be accessed online and cover areas such as online qualifications, digital skills or community interpreting. There are also courses to gain Free online qualifications in English and Maths or for those wishing to work in the health and social care or schools and childcare sectors, amongst other areas. For more information email cambs@wea.org.uk or see the website.
WEA in-person assessment session *tomorrow* for ESOL courses
WEA will be delivering in-person ESOL courses in Great Shelford starting this month. To join one of the new ESOL groups, students should attend an assessment session tomorrow (Friday 4 November) where the tutor will be able to assess attendees’ English skills and point them to the right course. The new groups will run on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30am to 11.30am, or on Fridays 11.30am to 1.30pm and Saturdays 1.30pm to 3.30pm, depending on students’ ability levels.
Ukrainian guests can drop in for tomorrow’s assessment session at any time between 9.30am and 1.30pm at Shelford Parish Church (St Mary’s) Community Room, Church Street, CB22 5EL. If you have any questions, email cambs@wea.org.uk
English classes in Cottenham
The regular English sessions for Ukrainian guests which are held at Cottenham have some spaces available in the ‘Beginner Plus’ class on Tuesdays between 5.30pm to 6.30pm. This is an informal class ideal for those who know a little English already. Adults, older children and young people are welcome to enrol. Please contact Amy for more details on 07753 282967 or email to hello@alearningplace.co.uk
More cycles to be available for popular bike scheme
Our ‘free bikes for Ukrainians’ scheme has proved extremely popular and the high demand has meant that our partnering charities are taking a little longer than anticipated to fulfil all requests. However, we are now working on ways to speed up the supply of cycles and hope to get as many as possible out to those on the waiting list in the very near future.
Donations of more bicycles will be gratefully received by the three charities who have partnered with the Council on this scheme – TAG Bikes, Owl Bikes and Camtrust. TAG bikes are looking for donations of good used bikes and also someone to help deliver bikes to our Ukrainian guests. If you are able to donate and/or help with deliveries, please call them on 01480 377697.
To find out more about the scheme, see the Local Travel Support section of our Ukrainian Guest Information Hub. Hosts can apply on behalf of their guests and applications for bikes can be made online at https://bit.ly/3BhXHBB and the Council will put the applicant in touch with their supplier so they can arrange to collect their bicycle. If bikes are no longer needed, they can be returned to the supplier.
Bikeability sessions
Bikeability is the Government’s national cycle training programme helping bike riders to learn practical skills and understand how to cycle on today’s roads.
There are several new Bikeability sessions available specifically for Ukrainian guests which can be signed up to online. The following adult sessions are being held at:
- Comberton Sports Centre, West Street, Comberton, CB23 7DU – November 19, 10am–1pm
- Impington Sports Centre, New Road, Impington, CB24 9LX – November 16, 9am–12noon
- Lower Cambourne Cricket Pavilion, Woodfield Lane, Lower Cambourne, CB23 6FY – December 3, 9am–12noon & 12.30pm–3.30pm, and December 17, 9am–12noon.
Volunteer drivers needed
There are a number of community car schemes based in or serving the South Cambridgeshire area which make a big difference to the lives of many people from all walks of life, including helping Ukrainian guests with essential journeys such as for shopping and medical appointments. If you are a driver and able to offer even just one drive a week with one of these community car schemes, this may be a big help to someone living near you.
The Huntingdonshire Volunteer Centre, which serves villages in South Cambridgeshire, is currently looking for more volunteer drivers. If you feel you may be able to help, please contact:
- St Ives Volunteer Centre, including Conington and Fen Drayton, on 01480 301462 / 07990 477552 or email: stives@huntsvc.org.uk
- St Neots Volunteer Centre including Croxton, Eltisley and Graveley on 07724 939613 stneots@huntsvc.org.uk
Fireworks Night – November 5
Please could hosts make their guests aware that this weekend will see the annual November 5 Bonfire or Fireworks Night celebrations taking place in many of our communities. Whilst this is a period of fun for many, Ukrainian guests are likely to be completely unaware of Fireworks Night, so it would be worthwhile explaining the tradition to them and warning them of what to expect – that there will be fireworks and loud bangs on several evenings around November 5.
After a break last week when there was no bulletin, we hope you find this latest update helpful for you and your guests. We will now be back to regular weekly bulletins up to the December festive period. We continue to be extremely grateful for all your continued support for the Homes for Ukraine programme.
Bill
Bill Handley
Lead Cabinet Member for Communities
South Cambridgeshire District Council