thread for those interested in refugee hosting/sponsorship

[EezyOozy]

I thought I would start a new thread about this as I have just heard on BBC news that they are opening up a web form tomorrow to express interest. Apparently families/households can claim £350 a month (I assume for increased expenses) and refugees will be eligible to claim or benefits and work. We have large a spare room but live rurally so whilst I will express interest I'm not sure we will be taken up on it.

I thought I would start a new thread for those who are interested and to follow the progress of the registration procedure/how this pans out in practice.

Posted here because it's the only place I know gets plenty traffic, I will probably be asking for this to be moved but don't know where to.

If anyone is potentially interested in giving a room for a single woman in her 70s (has to have own bathroom) in London, Derby, maybe NOttingham, please DM me for more details.
She would only need it for about 3 months from mid--April. She's not in best of health / low energy level after all the stress, so would suit a quiet household.

Thanks drspouse, I check that out.

Lots of UK posts posting on here, they seem to be organising themselves with regional coordinators. Perhaps if you choose will start looking more towards the UK with the sponsorship scheme interest form opening today

www.facebook.com/groups/rooms4ukraineuk/?ref=share

*hosts posting

eeek88 thanks for sharing your experience

Can anyone give me a view on whether anyone might be interested in our house? We can offer 3 bedrooms but we're rural. Nearest shop is a mile away along country lanes. Southwold is 4 miles away and quite a good place for employment but it would be a walk or a bike ride.

@VeniceorBust I think when charities are matching refugees to hosts they do stipulate a city placement… But seeing as the government seem to be allowing hosts and refugees to match with each other on social media (!) I would say that it's still worth registering for the scheme and just make it clear what you're setting is, it may appeal to somebody.

Thank you- worth a go then!

Thanks for the thread. Will be v useful to have mutual support, I think.

So are the refugees eligible for benefits, so can also contribute towards their own food. Which might make it a better proposition for people with space but worried about money. Which I understand.

We’ve got 4 adults in a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom house. I have no space sadly.

Yes, they are eligible for benefits and are allowed to work. And access NHS et cetera

@hassletassle

Yes, they are eligible for benefits and are allowed to work. And access NHS et cetera

That’s really good. So nobody has to worry about feeding an extra adult and possibly kids as well with only £350. I wouldn’t like to think people would be profiting out of housing a refugee but also understand peoples concerns about not “breaking even”.

@TacoCats

And watch that £350 be taken off peoples benefits as income. It's not worth it, it'll cost more alone in having extra people stay in food, gas/electric, water, petrol!

The £350 will, I think, be tax free under the Rent A Room scheme (up to £7500 lodger income per year tax free).

I don't know how many people on benefits have a spare room anyway, but for UC purposes lodger income isn't counted
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-a-home/subletting-and-lodging/lodging-index/taking-in-a-lodger-what-you-need-to-think-about-first/#:~:text=Will%20taking%20in%20a%20lodger%20affect%20your%20Universal%20Credit%3F,much%20Universal%20Credit%20you%20get.

An interesting question will be about the council tax single person discount - I haven't seen anything about that yet but obviously it's only relevant to households of one existing adult.

They're going to be eligible to claim benefits and work, so will be able to pay for food, bus fares etc out of that.

Fuel won't go up massively - you're already turning the lights on and heating the place anyway, so it'll just be the marginal costs like extra showers and charging their mobile phone. My water is unmetered anyway.

Does anyone know if they will be receiving support from a case worker / council worker on things like admin, finding work, English lessons etc. we have plenty of space and I really want to help but what I don’t have is loads of time as I have a 3 month old and 2 year old. I really want to help but realistically not gonna have time to be offering loads of additional support or cooking meals but I’m guessing it’s just accommodation and anything extra is nice but not expected

Has anyone found out how to register?
I understood we could do so from today but I still can’t find where.

Ryvah99877 - I really want to help but realistically not gonna have time to be offering loads of additional support or cooking meals but I’m guessing it’s just accommodation and anything extra is nice but not expected

I think it's meant to be more than just accommodation.

Discussion on R4 this morning, said the the main advantage of the scheme would be that refugees would get support from their hosts, such as help to find language classes, local transport, generally being introduced and integrated in to the area.

More specialised support such as counselling would be offered by local council.

Details appear to be out homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/

From reading the early reports of the scheme, it seems as though the £350 quid a month is payable per household not refugee and would be taxed. I guess it is designed to cover additional household bills like heat and water.

Ukrainians are to be given access to benefits etc so they will have an income and presumably will be able to work? I'm sure there will be huge localised support networks in urban areas as well as church and charity groups

I was listening to some interviews with families that have previously hosted refugees and there were some lovely life affirming experiences. But it would be a huge commitment.

We have an long empty granny flat that is more or less self contained. New bedding and towels etc would make it habitable and comfortable and I was thinking it would be suitable maybe for an older couple or a family with an SEN member. I think understandably mums and little kids might find an open door more readily although obviously I'd be happy with children too.They would have a degree of independence as there's a fully stocked kitchen and their own entrance. We live in a suburb with great transport and schools. I think our community would be amazing at trying to help maybe with employment etc.

I'm just keen to understand next steps. For example, my employer is a care provider so I'm sure we could offer work to someone with appropriate experience as well as hosting them. But not sure how you are "matched"

There are some lovely videos on YouTube of Ukrainian children starting school in France and Italy and the welcome the schools gave them. I hope U.K. schools are as good.

It appears you can register interest on the site as an individual. It doesn't ask a lot of info - just where you are and what size/type of accommodation you have (they're looking for empty self contained housing and rooms) I've registered and assume that'll mean they email me with more info or put me in touch with any local agencies who take on a coordinating role. Local agencies and support groups can also register on the site.

Yes the £350 is definitely per household that takes in refugees. It's the same amount regardless how many you take and they're paying it for up to a year. It's not intended to cover food and the refugees will be eligible for benefits or finding work. So assume they can buy their own food from that (or you can feed them if you want - I'm assuming you might need to for the first few weeks at least) They want you to commit for at least 6 months.

I've just been looking at the website, and you have to name the Ukrainian you wish to sponsor! The page also says:

"If you don’t know anyone who you wish to sponsor you may wish to get in touch with charities, faith groups or local community organisations who are starting to make connections between individuals."

It all seems terribly bureaucratic! And it isn't clear whether the govt will put you in touch with the relevant charities etc, or if the onus is on you to seek them out.

The local Ukrainian church or association is a good starting point in your nearest town:city. They have been active in delivering aid to the polish border and have the contacts in Ukraine

The registration link isn't working- I'm guessing there's a lot of traffic.

@TebayOrNotTebay

I've just been looking at the website, and you have to name the Ukrainian you wish to sponsor! The page also says:

"If you don’t know anyone who you wish to sponsor you may wish to get in touch with charities, faith groups or local community organisations who are starting to make connections between individuals."

It all seems terribly bureaucratic! And it isn't clear whether the govt will put you in touch with the relevant charities etc, or if the onus is on you to seek them out.

I'm not sure what website you're looking at but the one I linked to earlier (homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/) definitely allows you to register interest as an individual (if it's not crashed that it) I think that systems to enable you to link up to a named individual will be built over the next few weeks via the local support groups that register.

Yes it will be a bit slow and bureaucratic I think. On the plus side I guess it means that all those who arrive here have somewhere to stay, and that people who want to help can do so.