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.

Plus they will be able to claim benefits themselves and to work. Many of them will be more educated and experienced than you are.

[quote BananaPlants]@TacoCats - You have just made that up. It is because of extra expenses, not to replace benefits as ‘income’[/quote]
I'm not making it up the benefits system will see it as extra money and like always deduct it accordingly.

Post above to @TacoCats

I'm currently signed up to host European students for the local language school this summer but am reconsidering how to use my spare room thanks to threads like these.

@TacoCats - link to your source please. I will apologise if you are right..

Very different response from the public and government to the people that were crossing the channel in small boats

I would happily welcome a family in need with or without the £350

those thinking it'll be a breeze you haven't got a clue what your getting yourselves into this isn't some fairy tale!

Who said they thought it was going to be a breeze?! Obviously it will be difficult, that doesn't stop it being worthwhile

I would happily welcome a family in need with or without the £350

Me too, I was going to sign up anyway… I'm not going to lie the additional money for overheads will be helpful but I would have definitely offer to the room without. I realise I'm in a privileged position

@Reallybadidea

It’s not for the money you know.

No, but it will actually cost money to host families and if you're already struggling and it makes you worse off, then of course people are going to hesitate.

If you’re already struggling financially then do hesitate, because this isn’t for you.

@TacoCats I didn't really want this to become a thread arguing about why we should/ shouldn't consider taking people in. The fact is that the form is opening tomorrow and some of us are interested, this was a thread to discuss the application process and the practicalities of taking people in… There are lots of other threads where you can argue and say it's a really bad idea!

Live on the outskirts of a city with excellent transport links and have a large spare room and spare bathroom. No kids, just us. Am hoping to help as I think we have the ideal set-up, but the time commitment is the biggie. We’re planning to put the house on the market this year, so if it’s more than six months we won’t be doing it. I’m hopeful the government will realise a 12-month commitment - as reported yesterday- is going to deter a lot of would-be hosts and lower the period.

@Reallybadidea

Call me cynical, but I'm worried about the potential for them being exploited

That was my first thought.

I’d hope that the hosts are vetted.

With young kids it’s a no from me but I would consider if they had left home and we had space. We’re on the outskirts of a big city with reasonable transport links.

This absolutely has to be done from the heart and I wish all those that go for it well. I will leave the thread as the timing isn’t right for me unfortunately.

Very different response from the public and government to the people that were crossing the channel in small boats

This comes up every thread and it ends up being derailed. Can you not just leave people to do what they want and to help who they want.

The op will say they were considering doing it anyway, someone else will say they have been doing it for years, then another comment about how they empathise/relate more because they are European/mainly women and children and someone will rock up and tell everyone they are racist!

@68marmite

reading all the posts. Its a very privileged self indulgence to start the response with how it may unsettle and inconvinence your way of life for a short while...... Seriously get a grip!!! Flip the situation... The experience for households with children i only see the benefit to make sence of what is happening and the values of humanity. Yes i have children yes i have a spare room and yes i will register.

So you think it’s fine to risk a person who you know nothing about and whose background you don’t know to swan into a home with children?

Thanks for the thread @hassletassle we're definitely signing up. We've hosted language students for years and live in a city so hopefully we'll have someone placed with us.
Any hosts will be vetted and DBS checked.

@Frazzled2207 they are going to be vetted, but how do you ensure that someone isn't going to be forced to work as an unpaid cleaner/nanny with the threat of homelessness hanging over them?

Agree.

Typical fucking government fobbing this off onto citizens instead of setting up centres and using empty office spaces for accommodation. I'm so fed up with the population continually being expected to pick up the pieces left behind from this shit show of a government. I'll sign up to the scheme when each and every member of the government does the same.

You will need to be able to name the people you want to host according to the BBC.

Individuals acting as sponsors will be able to nominate a named Ukrainian individual or family to stay with them rent-free in their home, or in a separate property, for six months

Sponsors won't be required to know them in advance - they might find them, for example, through posts on social media

Thanks @ClaudineClare I didn't know that

@Phos @Tippexy @hassletassleI think @68marmite was referring to another post on mumsnet where a lot of people were saying how they wouldn’t take anyone in because of the inconvenience. I don’t think they were referring to your post.

I don’t have the space for anyone at the mo, I wish I did and if I did I would.

I wonder where all those who are going to do the vetting will come from?
Presumably there will have to be a home visit to see if the accommodation being offered is suitable.

Sponsors won't be required to know them in advance - they might find them, for example, through posts on social media

I think I will have to assess how this pans out in reality

Hi we are considering hosting but can’t work out how to find someone to name on the form? I may be missing something and / or things may be clearer when details are released tomorrow but does anyone know how this will work?

We’re not on social media but happy to join if needed as that’s the only reference I’ve seen in the news today.

Apologies if I’ve missed something obvious!