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
Support for those aged 65+ who are struggling with food and fuel bills
Ukrainian guests aged 65-plus who are struggling with food and fuel bills can access support via the Government-funded Household Support Fund, which is open to eligible UK residents. Support can be provided within a few days, with longer-term support possible if needed. Applicants, who must have been born before September 30 1956, can apply by calling 01223 221929 or visiting Household Support Fund – Cambridgeshire County Council
Community Support for Ukraine
We have created a short survey in the hope of better understanding what different community volunteers / groups / organisations are currently doing or are planning to do. This is so we can have a wider view of the district’s overall support for hosts and their Ukrainian guests. If you are currently involved in a planned activity to support guests from Ukraine, we would be grateful if you could complete our survey here.
Bi-lingual host, community member or guest needed
We are looking into the possibility of creating a Facebook group for young people aged 16 to 19, where they can connect and provide support for one another. We are searching for a bi-lingual adult who would be prepared to volunteer as a moderator. Anyone with a background in safeguarding, such as a doctor, teacher, or social worker, would be ideal.
If you are interested, please contact us via email here.
Free places still available for English classes in Sawston and Cottenham
Places are still available on our free English lessons for guests from Ukraine, starting in Sawston and Cottenham in September. Working in partnership with A Learning Place, we are funding 20 places for Ukrainian guests at each location on the weekly English course. The free places are available on a first come, first served basis.
The classes will be taught by qualified and experienced teachers of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), focussing on the spoken English needed for everyday life and are aimed at adults and secondary age young people. To sign up, please complete this short registration form and for more information, please contact Amy on 01223 297358 or hello@alearningplace.co.uk Guests from anywhere in the district can apply.
English courses and training to become a ‘Community Interpreter’
The adult learning provider WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) also runs a variety of courses which may be of interest to Ukrainian Guests. These include ESOL courses and Community Interpreting courses starting online via Zoom or in-person in September, which guests can access for free if they have come to the UK through the Sponsorship Scheme or the Family Scheme.
To join the ESOL course, an initial assessment must be completed first to assess the level of an applicant’s English. For the Community Interpreter’s course, an assessment also has to made of level of English and motivation.
The courses currently available and further information, including how to enrol online, can be found at https://www.wea.org.uk/cambs
REMINDER – Free Entry to Cambridge Botanic Gardens for age 16+ Ukraine Guests
Free tickets to the Cambridge Botanic Gardens are still available and being offered to those over the age of 16. Please keep in mind that children aged 0-16 are already admitted free of charge, and host families will need to pay the standard garden admission fee.
Guests can now apply for their tickets by filling out this application form. The tickets will be offered one per person and distributed weekly via post. Tickets are valid until June 1, 2023.
Please find useful information about visiting the garden here: https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/visit-us/how-to-get-here/
How to offer employment to Ukrainian guests
We are encouraging Hosts who know of potential job opportunities for Ukrainian guests to check out the Government’s guidance for businesses offering work to people coming from Ukraine
Those who can offer employment should complete the Vacancy information questionnaire and return it to offerwork@homeoffice.gov.uk
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will then be in touch to discuss the roles available, with job opportunities shared across the DWP Jobcentre Plus network and with the Refugee Employment Network (REN), a charity which works with organisations across the UK to support refugees into work.
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