 Welcome to our regular newsletter for hosts (sponsors).
There are more than 500 of you who have already been matched with Ukrainian refugees and this is our main way to keep you updated with what's happening in East Sussex. (You can unsubscribe at any time).
Below you'll find updates on:
- Payment arrangements for hosts
- Our welcome guide in Russian
- Reminder of how guests can arrange payments
- How to contact our helpline
Have your guests already been with you for at least a month? If so, we'll contact you shortly with details of how you can request an optional £350 monthly thank-you payment.
While most of you will not yet be in this group, we are developing a payment system for everyone and will give you more details soon.
If you do claim the optional monthly payment when the system is in place, payments will be be backdated to the first day that your guests arrived.
Thank you to everyone for your patience.
 We have now published our welcome guide for refugees in Russian as well as Ukrainian and English. We know that Russian is the first language of some people who have fled Ukraine.
You can easily switch between all three language versions of the guide on our page. It offers advice on health, benefits and employment, banking, education and more, as well as a welcome to East Sussex. We will keep it updated.
Most of our guests already in East Sussex have now received the £200 welcome payment for each person arriving on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
If not, they can request the payment by contacting their local voluntary association:
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In Eastbourne, Lewes or Wealden - contact 01323 639373
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In Hastings - contact 01424 444010
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In Rother - contact 01424 217259 or 07871 603235
Or, they can request the payment by cheque which will be sent by post and can be cashed at any branch of NatWest bank.
Free four-week bus passes for Stagecoach services for Ukrainian arrivals can also be collected from the voluntary associations. Passes for Brighton and Hove buses can be collected from the company's offices in Brighton and Hove.
Many thanks to everyone who's completed our form to give essential details about your household and everyone in it aged 16 or over.
It's the vital first step for anyone matched with guests and we can't begin checks or arrange payments until it's done. If you haven't yet completed the form, please do that now.
We know many of you might still have questions. Please contact us if you do:
Telephone - 01323 724748 (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday).
Email - ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk
We'd like to ask for your patience. We're organising and processing home visits and DBS checks as fast as we can and working with all our partners to get these done.
Our staff are working flat out and your kindness and consideration as they try to help you will be much appreciated.
If your questions are about visas, please contact the Home Office helplines.
East Sussex you're amazing! It's been a pleasure to meet so many Ukrainian guest settling in (including at least 130 children who've been found school places so far). Our thanks to all you hosts.
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