Dear Hosts/Sponsors and Potential Hosts/sponsors
Firstly, can we thank you again for your ongoing support in hosting and sponsoring Ukrainian Guests. Your contribution to this humanitarian programme is greatly appreciated.
We now have around 160 Guests settled in the region, with the work ongoing to match further Guests in the Welcome Hub hotels across Scotland to the host/sponsor offers across Scotland. It takes some time to get the right families together so that it’s a successful match. There are around 6,000 Guests in the temporary Welcome Hubs in Scotland so be assured that if you don’t yet have your Guests with you, they will be coming as soon as possible.
In our region, the children are settling in well at their schools. GP and Dentist registrations, English classes and benefits registrations are all progressing – however if you or your Guests have any problems with any of this, remember there is a wealth of information on the website www.dumgal.gov.uk/supportukraine
You can also let us know at resettlementproject@dumgal.gov.uk
This Newsletter has a particular focus on opportunities to connect with each other and our Guests – the next edition will have some helpful tips about maintaining good relationships, mental health and wellbeing.
Potential Council Tax Exemption for Guests
A Council Tax exemption or discount is available to all Ukrainian guests over the age of 18 residing in our area. If your guest was residing in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022 and because of the Russian invasion had to flee their home, they may be entitled to a relief from 1 April 2022. If a guest moves into a property, the host should inform the Council Tax team using the contact details below. Please provide full names of all adult residents in the property, and the exact date of occupation. Should the guest(s) then leave the property the host should advise of the exact date the property became vacant.
Contact Information
Email: Counciltax@dumgal.gov.uk
Telephone: 0303 333 3005
Online change of address form:
www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/15275/Change-of-address-for-council-tax
Supporting our Hosts/sponsors
Massive Outpouring Of Love – D&G Refugee Action (MOOL), the D&G Multicultural Association (DGMA), The Crichton Trust and the D&G Inter Faith Group are keen to offer support to hosts/sponsors and want to open a dialogue about what kind of support and welcome would be most wanted from their organisations and volunteers. They would also like to let you know about any events, outings and cultural opportunities which are being put on. There are many volunteers across the region who are eager to offer more local support and put on more local activities.
They want to establish a mailing list to let you know what they are doing that you might be interested in. Just as importantly, they want to know what kinds of support, events, or items would be most useful to you. Networking groups in different towns and villages is one proposal – meeting up with other Hosts/sponsors to talk about what’s working well, the challenges and what would help you in the future. Please contact them on ukrainesupport@mool.scot
We will continue to use this Newsletter to share their events and activities – so this is an additional, direct route to engage with the charity organisations working with people in our Resettlement Schemes.
Here is more information about each of these organisations:
Massive Outpouring Of Love
D&G Refugee Action (MOOL) – a local charity which supports displaced people and in Dumfries and Galloway, especially people in our Resettlement Schemes from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council
would like to invite you to
An Evening for Hosts
at The Usual Place, Dumfries, on Friday 18 November from 7–9pm
Wine, soft drinks and canapes will be served.
If you have any questions regarding this event, and transport enquiries, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at: dumfries@mool.scot
We look forward very much to meeting you.
Dumfries and Galloway Multi-Cultural Association (DGMA)
A local charity which supports people from ethnic, religious and cultural minorities.
Dumfries and Galloway Inter Faith Group (DGIFG)
A local network which brings people together from different faith traditions and none, affiliated to Interfaith Scotland, a Scottish charity specialising in promoting engagement between different faith and belief communities across Scotland.
The Crichton Trust
Responsible for developing The Crichton as a place of educational, commercial, recreational, cultural and artistic excellence. Located in Dumfries and situated within 85 acres of parkland, the grounds are free and open to the public all year round.
The Crichton has had funding from the Resettlement Project to open a Ukrainian Café, attached to the Easterbrook Hall (formerly Neuros). It has some Ukrainian dishes on the menu, and we would encourage you to visit to build it as a place to network with others in a similar situation.
Forthcoming Events
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DGMA Hallowe’en Party – a free event with various activities on 30 October 2022 at 3pm in the DGMA building in Dumfries. Costumes are encouraged – this is an opportunity to introduce our Ukrainian Guests to a British custom!
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Scottish Interfaith Week is on 13-20 November with the theme of ‘Storytelling’. If you would like to take part in a small informal event – perhaps sharing some local and Ukrainian folk tales – please get in touch with the D&G Inter Faith Group who are organising our local event(s) - communityplanning@dumgal.gov.uk
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DGMA Winter Fest Market – Sunday 27 November 2022 (timing to be confirmed) – tables can be booked for only £10 to sell crafts and/or just go along for various activities and entertainment
We want to hear from you!
Reflections on being a Host in Dumfries and Galloway.We would really like to hear from you about what is going well and what the best part of being a Host is. We would also like to knowwhat the challenges are, and how can we help you. All views will remain anonymous – please send any contributions to the Resettlementproject@dumgal.gov.uk
If there is any information you think may be useful, but is missing from our Support for Ukraine pages, please let us know at: Resettlementproject@dumgal.gov.uk
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