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
Coming soon: Additional optional £150 host monthly payment
We wanted to give you some advance notice that, later this month, we will be contacting hosts to offer an opt-in extra £150 monthly payment due to the additional expenditure associated with hosting during the rising cost of living. This follows some feedback from hosts on the increasing additional costs of hosting Ukrainian guests. We will be in touch with hosts direct, within the next couple of weeks, to provide full details – including how they can opt-in to receive this additional payment. It will not be paid automatically.
The cost-of-living crisis is impacting all households, but the additional opt-in payment is in recognition of the extra costs, including rising energy bills, of hosting guests in your home. We know hosting guests is a huge commitment and we do not want hosts to feel they are not able to continue due the increasing costs involved. Further guidance will be sent to hosts before the end of the month.
Reminder: Dedicated email address for all housing concerns for Hosts and Guests
We would like to remind you that we have some helpful information for Homes for Ukraine hosts and guests on our website under the ‘Looking ahead’ section. This is to offer support as we come to the end of the initial six-month hosting period and start to move into next phase of the scheme, answering the many queries and concerns from hosts and guests regarding how housing and accommodation needs will be dealt with moving forward.
Our dedicated team will offer advice and assistance in this area. For all housing related questions or issues, please email HFULiaison@scambs.gov.uk as this will get your query on this topic through to the right team.
If a guest is facing imminent homelessness out of normal office hours, they can call 01253 501117. Please note that this phone number is for emergency out of hours housing support only and the email address above should remain the primary contact for questions or queries during regular business hours.
Revamped Website sections for Homes for Ukraine scheme
We wanted to let you know that we have refreshed and revamped our support for Ukraine website sections. They now look a little different to how they did previously. In particular, we have taken the opportunity to streamline our Guest Information Hub which we realise had become quite unwieldy as a long, single website page. It is now presented as a single summary page with several linked pages covering financial advice and support, access to health and wellbeing services, access to education and childcare, local travel support and hobbies and leisure activities. If you have any feedback about the new look for this section of our website, please email communications@scambs.gov.uk
Refugee Integration Loans
Additional financial help is available from the Government for Ukrainian guests as they settle in the UK in the form of a Refugee Integration Loan. This is given to help pay for things such rent deposits or rent, household items, or education and training for work.
Guests must be over 18 and a refugee, have humanitarian protection or be a dependant of a refugee or someone with humanitarian protection. They can apply for the loan either by themselves or with their husband, wife or partner. If applying alone, then they can borrow between £100 and £500, or if applying with a partner, then the amount is between £100 and £780.
Eligibility criteria for a Refugee Integration Loan can be checked on the www.gov.uk website.
Refugee Integration Loans are interest-free – and those who receive them only pay back what they borrow, but they must make regular payments. Repayments will not start until 6 weeks after receipt of the money and the repayment amounts will be dependent on circumstances. Successful applicants will be sent a loan agreement which will tell them how to repay the loan.
Ukrainian guests should contact their local Jobcentre Plus before applying for this loan to see if they can get help with the costs associated with training, education, work, living or childcare; they may be able to get this help for free. If successful in their application, they tell Jobcentre Plus they have been given an integration loan.
The loan must be used for things that are essential to help guests to settle into UK society, including:
- a housing deposit, rent payment or moving costs
- essential items for the home
- training or education
- basic living costs (such as food or household bills)
- work clothing and equipment.
They cannot be used to pay for debts or travel costs for family members to come to the UK and successful applicants may be asked to prove how they have spent the loan. The loan will not usually affect any income-related benefits unless applicants have more than £6,000 in savings. Applications must be made online.
English Classes in Sawston
We are working with A Learning Place Ltd to provide English classes. Two Sawston sessions have availability to welcome guests of all ages (secondary school age young people are welcome to enrol as learners; younger children are welcome to attend with their parents) to either of the following classes:
General conversation class in Sawston, Thursday 4.15pm- 5.15pm
This is a conversation class suitable for learners of all but the most advanced level. Various levels can be accommodated within the class which provides a structured opportunity to hone and develop speaking skills in a supportive environment.
Beginner class in Sawston, Thursdays 5.30pm-6.30pm
This class focuses on helping learners to develop the speaking and listening skills needed to navigate daily life. The class is suitable for complete beginners, those who need support to speak in sentences and slightly more advanced learners who lack confidence.
Please contact Amy at hello@alearningplace.co.uk or on 07753 282967 or complete the registration form at https://bit.ly/ALP-English-classes
Bike scheme continues: 80 cycles now delivered and charities appeal for donations of more bikes
Our ‘free bikes for Ukrainians’ scheme is proving very popular with many Ukrainian guests, including children, who are living in South Cambridgeshire under the Homes for Ukraine programme.
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.
So far, 186 applicants have been verified as being eligible for the scheme, with 49 of those applications completed, seeing a total of 80 bicycles delivered.
The charities involved continue to work hard to process all the applications and are issuing the bikes as soon as possible. Currently there is a four to five weeks waiting time. We are extremely grateful to our partners and ask guests who are waiting for bicycles to please be patient and bear with us as we try to reduce the waiting time for bikes. Any donations of bikes will also support us to speed up the turnaround.
To find out more about the scheme, see the Local Travel 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 the nearest supplier so they can arrange to collect their bicycle. If bikes are no longer needed, they can be returned to the supplier.
Support from H.A.Y. South Cambs!
A reminder that the organisation H.A.Y. South Cambs! How Are You?, which promotes positive mental health in South Cambridgeshire, has a section dedicated to support for Ukrainian guests and host families.
It gives information on the support groups which can be accessed across South Cambridgeshire, with details on local volunteers and community groups offering activities and practical help, employment opportunities and more. We would urge hosts to ensure their guests are aware of this additional support. Log on at: Ukrainian Guests & Host Families – How Are You South Cambs (haysouthcambs.co.uk)
If host families know of other local support groups which currently don’t feature on H.A.Y.’s website, then please get in touch via the CLP@scambs.gov.uk mailbox.
Wild Minds – outdoor activities for younger Ukrainian guests
There are still a few places available for young people from Ukraine on the Wild Minds course which started at Wandlebury Country Park yesterday.
This special Ukrainian-only course is for young people aged from 12 up to 17 who may be struggling with issues of depression or worry, particularly related to their experiences since the outbreak of the war. It is designed to help improve mental health in young people through free outdoor activities and is supported by a Clinical Psychologist. Each session is an hour and a half long and is taking place on a weekly basis. For more information, complete the online form to express an interest in joining the course.
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