Almost 100 Ukrainian refugees are known to have already arrived in East Sussex through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
The data we receive from the Government is imperfect but this is how we believe our current guests and hosts are distributed:
| |
Arrivals |
Host households |
| Eastbourne |
6 |
3 |
| Hastings |
3 |
1 |
| Lewes |
23 |
13 |
| Rother |
18 |
6 |
| Wealden |
44 |
19 |
| Total |
94 |
42 |
The number of arrivals will continue to climb steadily. We believe at least 1077 Ukrainians have already been matched with 446 households across the county.
| |
Total expected arrivals |
Total matched households |
| Eastbourne |
121 |
55 |
| Hastings |
89 |
45 |
| Lewes |
196 |
90 |
| Rother |
197 |
74 |
| Wealden |
474 |
182 |
| Total |
1077 |
446 |
These figures represent only the Homes for Ukraine scheme and do not include people arriving on Ukraine Family Visas or through independent arrangements.
Good progress is being made on welcoming and supporting arrivals, thanks to a great community effort across East Sussex.
From Monday (25 April), Ukrainian guests can arrange their £200 welcome payment from a local centre.
This one-off payment for immediate expenses is for every person (adult or child) with a visa under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Any guests who have not already received it can now contact their local voluntary association to arrange picking up the payment.
-
In Eastbourne, Lewes or Wealden - contact 01323 639373
-
In Hastings - contact 01424 444010
-
In Rother - contact 07871 603235
On contact, they will be told where to collect the payment. Everyone will be asked to sign a receipt for the cash. Guests should bring their passport (or if they do not have one, their confirmed visa or eVisa code or Biometric Residence Permit). Adults will be able to collect payments for those in their family under the age of 18.
We have already made urgent payments to many arrivals. Only one payment per person is possible and only for those arriving through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Payments by post
Guests can instead ask for their £200 payment by post if they prefer.
If they request this, we'll send them a letter with a cheque which can then be cashed at any branch of Nat West bank. The bank will also need that person's passport to be shown.
To request this option, guests are asked to email ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk
Future payments
We're developing more permanent systems for payments and will update you as these are set up. They will include ways for hosts to request an optional £350 monthly payment.
Two bus companies which operate in East Sussex, Stagecoach and Brighton and Hove buses, are offering four weeks' free travel to Ukrainian refugees.
From Monday (25 April), Stagecoach passes can be collected from the local voluntary associations listed above in the payments item. The bus passes will run for four weeks from the day they are first used.
Brighton and Hove buses are also offering four weeks' free travel to Homes for Ukraine arrivals. To collect a travel pass, your guests should take their passport and visa to one of the company's offices:
1 Stop Travel Shop - 26 North Street, Brighton, BN1 1EB Open Monday to Friday - 0830-18.30, Saturday - 0900-1730, Sunday and Bank Holidays - 0930-1600
Head Office travel shop - 43 Conway Street, Hove BN3 3LT Open Monday to Friday - 0830-1700
 Local groups in East Sussex (or nearby) are already holding welcome sessions for Ukrainian guests and hosts to meet each other and get community support, including from Ukrainian speakers. There are two this weekend:
Saturday (23 April) 11.30am to 1pm, All Saints Church, The Drive, Hove. BN3 3QE. Drop-in support for refugees and hosts.
Sunday (24 April) 2pm. The Common Room, 27 Cambridge Road, Hastings (opposite the Esk store). Meeting for new Ukrainian arrivals (this will take place every two weeks).
An East Sussex branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain is being formed. They have set up a Facebook group:
Ukrainians in East Sussex [opens Facebook link]
We know many other community and voluntary groups in East Sussex are organising support: thanks to everyone involved.
 Our Welcome to East Sussex guide for guests is now available in full Ukrainian translation (as well as English).
Our guide for hosts is also online. Both these guides can also be translated into Russian (or other languages) using the Google Translate option at the top of these pages.
We hope they are useful and we'll keep updating them.
There is more information on our website and on the Government's site about Homes for Ukraine.
Only the Home Office can answer enquiries about visas. UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If you have hosts in your community with pressing questions they can contact us by email or our telephone helpline:
Email: ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk
Telephone: 01323 724748 (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
We thank everyone for their patience as we build up our support and welcome in the county. It's already a great combined effort from East Sussex - thank you!
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