Would you like to view the web page version of this email? Click here

17 June 2022

An update for MPs, councillors and parishes

English language classes for Ukrainians

A number of English language courses are available for those Ukrainians that wish to develop their English language skills. These include:

• Learning | East Sussex Libraries
• Pre-entry ESOL programme – 11 week courses through East Sussex College Group in Hastings and Eastbourne 
• Babbel - the language app, is offering free courses in English for Ukrainian refugees: 
• Busuu language app is also offering its premium service free to Ukrainians for 3 months. 
• Sanctuary Cafe
  🕓 Fridays between 10am and midday (12pm). 
  📍  All Souls Church Hall, Wellesley Road, Eastbourne
• Ukrainian Café Hub
  🕓 Tuesday afternoon 1-4 pm
  📍  Robertson Street, Hastings – conversational English groups
• Education Training Consortium Sussex - based in Hastings and St Leonards. Currently offering Beginner-Elementary and Pre-Intermediate English lessons as well as IT lessons. Currently offering 8 classes per week. Looking to set up coffee mornings for conversational English. 

• Refugee Buddy Project - based in Hastings and Rother - provide informal English conversation workshops, 1hr per week, helping with understanding bills, council tax, housing, driving theory. 

For more information on education and training opportunities for Ukrainians in East Sussex, they can now visit the East Sussex College Ukraine Support website here.

Recruitment days for Ukrainian guests

Recruitment days are being held in the coming weeks to support Ukrainian guests in finding work. Local employers will be attending and actively recruiting for jobs. These events will take place at the following:

💼 Eastbourne Jobcentre  🗓️ 24^th June 
💼 Hastings Jobcentre  🗓️ 29^th June

Ukrainian guests can contact their Jobcentre Plus Work Coach for more information. 

Host payments: change to first payment

Local boroughs or district councils are now contacting hosts to advise them how to claim their optional £350 monthly ‘thank you’ payment, funded by the national government.

East Sussex County Council and our partners want to say an additional ‘thank you’ so we’ll be topping up the first month’s payment to £500 (for those who wish to claim) in recognition of the incredible support and commitment our hosts have provided and the costs that can come with this.

Free membership with Freedom Leisure

Freedom Leisure Centres across the south east of England are currently offering Ukrainians free access to their facilities for the next 3 months, including use of the swimming pool, gym and fitness classes.

Participating centres are located across Hastings, Rother, Wealden, Brighton, Woking, Guildford and Arun.

To redeem this offer, Ukrainians should visit their local Freedom Leisure Centre where they will be able to sign up on arrival.

Host support workshops

Sponsors of Ukrainian guests are invited to attend a workshop designed to help them in their role of hosting families displaced from their homeland by war in Ukraine.

The workshop is organised by the 3VA and the Association for Family Therapy.

The workshop will aim to help participants feel more confident about what to expect, how to negotiate and manage difficult areas and how to recognise when more help is needed. We recognise the kindness and generosity of those offering to host and we hope, through this workshop, to help make their experience a successful one.

The workshops are free and available at the following:

📍 Eastbourne  🗓️ 25^th June  🕓 12:30-3pm  🔗 Register here

📍 Wealden  🗓️ 23^rd June  🕓 12 – 2.30pm   🔗 Register here

📍 Lewes  🗓️ 26^th June  🕓 12:30 -3pm    🔗 Register here

More than 960 guests now in East Sussex

Guest arrivals by borough and district in East Sussex

Latest figures show that at least 960 guests have arrived in East Sussex under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Our thanks to every host and every community making our guests welcome. 

The guests are at 374 different properties across the county. More than 280 school places have been allocated to Ukrainian children. 

The figures suggest we can expect more than 1,460 Ukrainians to come to East Sussex in total, meaning the county has received a little over 60% of our number of anticipated arrivals.

We use this newsletter to bring you updates about how East Sussex and its communities are working with our Ukraine guest. You can unsubscribe at any time. 

If you have further questions, you can contact us at ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk

We wish everyone a great weekend.