Hosting Ukrainian refugees - can I host in a rural area?

[WhatsWithAllTheCarrots]

We want to offer to host refugees - we have the space in our house, our little kids are on board with the idea, but we live in a rural area.

I spent some time reading through the various websites and news articles last night and I am confused! The government website seems to be open for us to register our interest in hosting, but am I right in thinking we would have to then approach a charity to match us with a specific Ukrainian individual or family to sponsor?

News articles seem to be saying that the government won't match you with refugees, but you can approach a refugee charity to apply to be matched.

I looked at some of the charity websites last night. Refugees at Home explicitly say on their front page that they don't want hosts in rural areas, and that you must only apply if you live in a town or city with good transport links. Our public transport links are very poor and the nearest is a significant walk from our house (20 mins).

The other websites don't say anything about living rurally. I feel like I ought to apply at least via the government website so that they have a clear idea of numbers of people willing to offer rooms, but I'm not sure which charity to approach. Has anyone found a charity that is definitely accepting rural applications?

To add, I understand why we wouldn't be an ideal placement - lack of transport links, lack of jobs available locally. But we have a decent amount of space in our home and it must surely be better than a B&B somewhere?

I think the government want people to help the refugees find jobs and schools etc. Nobody knows if the people who have left as refugees will ever be able to return to their homes and lives.

Many people in the UK will already have links to people from the Ukraine but until now they couldn't just say to them 'come and move in with us, we have the room.'

It could work if you could give them access to a vehicle wouldn't it?

I've read that before with regards to all refugees.
Out local village Facebook group is talking about it but realistically we have a very poor, expensive bus service and our small primary school is always full.
Is a dormitory village really with limited job opportunities, except for cleaning and gardening so it would be not far off importing cheap live in domestic staff. Possibly acceptable in extremis not ideal. I restrained myself from pointing this out on the Facebook page.

@CrabLegs Yes vehicle access would be essential. We already car share though so the access probably wouldn't be enough; we could do all the school runs but getting an adult to a place of work would be trickier. Well, I guess I can only apply and see what they say.

@Wbeezer I've just signed up for a Sanctuary Foundation webinar that's running tonight - might be worth you & your village joining that to find out a bit more.