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.

I take your point about unrealistic expectations but I don’t think the way to combat it is by jumping on people whose guests are already here. In fact if anything it’s likely to be counterproductive because if people feel they can’t say anything negative about their experiences for fear of getting a ‘well what did you expect?’ response rather than constructive suggestions, the only people who will post will be those who are finding it easy which make the problem of unrealistic expectations worse.

As I think I have already made clear I completely agree that the lack of preparation and vetting is ridiculous. I read yesterday about a placement that broke down because the hosts were heavy smokers and the guests couldn’t cope with the environment. Imagine making an arrangement to share your home without hammering out something as important as that.

forinborin, I haven't commented much on here because I've been fortunate and haven't needed the support, but just to give another perspective we have so far found the experience of hosting three Ukrainian 22 year old female friends to be a very positive one. I originally thought we would be offering accommodation to a mother and children but when I was contacted via a Facebook private message by one of the girls I thought it seemed like a less stressful placement for us and a way of stopping three young women falling into the wrong hands.

I was trepidatious of the pitfalls going into this but we have been incredibly lucky as they are delightful and we're not experiencing any issues sharing our house with them. The initial paperwork was tiresome but they've all found jobs very quickly and we've got an old car back on the road so they have some independence.

It not always a negative experience by any means but I do think the people, of either country, who are finding the going tough need a place to vent without being hit with 'I told you so'.

1003 comments. What?! I was thinking I ought to make a new thread but perhaps not?