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Welcome to your dedicated newsletter for Homes for Ukraine hosts in East Sussex.
In March it will be two years since the launch of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. To date more than 800 host families have welcomed 1,763 guests to our county. But with 61 guests living in temporary accommodation we need more hosts. To remind people that joining the scheme is as important now as it was in March 2022 we are running a campaign during the next couple of months. It will include host and guest interviews, as well as posters and leaflets.
One of the people featured in the campaign is Debbie. You can read about how she joined the scheme and welcomed her guest Nataliia in this newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading their story as much as we did. We'd love to hear your story, so please email us if you would like to share your story.
February also saw the country mark National Apprenticeship Week - apprenticeships could be a great way for your guest to develop new skills, build confidence and kick start their life in East Sussex.
The Council’s Ukrainian Guests Advisory Panel is looking for people who are passionate about making services the best they can be for those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
We’re looking for people with recent lived experience of arriving in East Sussex and being supported by East Sussex County Council or other organisations.
The Ukrainian Guests Advisory Panel meets once every two weeks. Attendees are paid £20 under our Reward and Recognition scheme for each meeting they attend.
At meetings they’ll discuss things like housing, employment, health needs, financial and community support.
If you know someone who would like to join the Panel, ask them to send us a brief email saying why they are interested and what they could bring to the role. Or if they have any questions about the role, need help with the applications or need the information in other formats and languages please email ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk
The closing date for applications is 15 March.
Apprenticeships are a great way to earn money while taking the first steps on your new career path. They offer you the chance to learn new skills while also studying to gain qualifications in your chosen area of work.
During February, our county celebrated National Apprenticeship Week, which this year had the theme of “Skills for Life”.
Become an apprentice
Apprenticeships are a great way to develop a broad range of experience, build confidence and kick start a journey of professional learning and development. Many employers from across the county, including the County Council, have apprenticeships available.
The Council has put hundreds of new and existing staff through apprenticeships. Staff can do more than one apprenticeship while at the council, and many have worked through apprenticeships to get a professional degree, all for no cost to them and are given time off at work to complete studies.
The Council also offers pre-employment support to anyone wishing to undertake an apprenticeship who doesn’t work at the council. This can involve giving advice on what sort of jobs are available and assistance with practice around filling applications and how to approach job interviews. For further information on this support, please contact the team at apprenticeships@eastsussex.gov.uk
Find out more about apprenticeships at East Sussex County Council and check out the apprenticeships roles available right now.
For more information and to hear testimonials from people on the ‘Skills For Life’ scheme visit our Your East Sussex web page.
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More than 100 guests, hosts and friends involved in the Homes for Ukraine scheme gathered to celebrate Ukrainian Unity Day in January.
The celebrations were hosted by Sussex Community Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA) for its Ukrainian clients, families and friends.
The event at SCDA’s Community Centre in Newhaven was funded by the organisation’s Positive Activities Project; supporting Ukrainian children and young people into activities in their community.
Activities included:
- Circus Skills by East Sussex School of Circus Arts
- Newhaven Library Service, Story Telling, Rhyme Time and a range of free Ukrainian books on offer,
- Suzy Larkin Tennis Coach, tennis skills and games
- Peacehaven Lacemakers,
- ‘Be Together’ Ukrainian Drumming Circle,
- Crafty Annie Ukrainian themed crafts,
- Kew Gardens Nature Activities and Nature Walk
- SCDA Charity shop offering low-cost quality clothing, accessories and toys
- Ukrainian music and choir performances
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Being more physically active has been compared to a wonder drug because of the huge range of benefits it offers to everyone - no matter your age, state of health, or disability.
That’s why the Public Health team at East Sussex County Council, in partnership with Active Sussex and other partners across the county, have launched the #GettingEastSussexMoving social media campaign.
The campaign highlights and celebrates a range of support you can access to get active, as well as the wonderful locations to get moving across our county.
Being more active has many benefits, including: helping to control weight, reducing the risk of serious diseases like cardiac problems and diabetes, and improving your mood and sleep.
Read more about the benefits of being more active.
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As we start to leave winter behind, what better time to head outside and see what’s happening across the county.
We’ve details of some of the great events and activities taking place this February.
And, if you need further inspiration about what to do and where to go during the upcoming school half-term holiday, look no further than our article highlighting some ideas for some school half-term fun.
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Have you had your flu jab? It's not too late
If you haven’t already had your flu vaccines, it’s not too late.
It’s strongly recommended you get vaccinated if you’re eligible this winter. People in priority groups are particularly vulnerable to the effects of flu.
It is a safe and effective vaccine that helped keep around 25,000 people out of hospital last year.
Priority groups include frontline healthcare workers, pregnant women and those with eligible health conditions.
Book your flu jab through your GP or Pharmacy.
Anyone else can pay to have a flu vaccination at participating pharmacies.
To find out more about the Flu vaccine.
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Hosting: my story so far...
Like most people in February 2022, Deborah Moore (above) was unsure how to help the people of Ukraine when the full-scale invasion of the country began. A month later, when the Homes for Ukraine scheme launched, she realised a way to help.
‘I thought the Homes for Ukraine scheme might be something I could do; I had a spare room and although my house is small, it’s comfortable,’ says Deborah – known as Debbie. She joined Facebook groups for connecting guests and hosts and began to search for potential matches.
Meanwhile, in the village of Chynadiyavo, in Ukraine, Nataliia Borysiuk had read about Homes for Ukraine on Facebook. She wanted to move to Britain because she understood the English language, and she had always dreamed of seeing the country, which she’s since fallen in love with – especially East Sussex’s countryside.
She wrote a post about herself and the need to match with a Host who would accept her cat, ‘since she is my Ukrainian soul’. Debbie saw the post in the East Sussex Facebook group and responded.
Following initial contact, the pair began to speak regularly on Facebook Messenger. They asked each other questions about likes, dislikes, expectations and how the living arrangements would work. Luckily, Debbie – who Nataliia describes as a ‘beautiful English lady’ – is also a cat-person and was happy to welcome Nataliia and her cat into her Lewes home. And while Debbie and Nataliia bonded quickly, their two pets had to ‘learn how to get on’.
During those Messenger chats a relationship was formed. Debbie then helped Nataliia organise all the documents and transport arrangements, supporting her guest at every stage of the process.
First meeting
The pair – and Nataliia’s cat Tima – met in France. For the first month they were with each other constantly. When Nataliia first arrived in Lewes, she suffered panic attacks. But soon things began to improve. She got work, started college, and made friends. ‘In East Sussex I am surrounded by good people, with good humour and a great love for animals,’ Nataliia says.
The adaptation to East Sussex life went well, thanks to Debbie’s support and patience, says Nataliia. ‘She is the main person in my life, along with my cat. My family is in Ukraine. I call them, but when I hear bad news about what is happening in Ukraine, I cry and Debbie cries with me. It turned out we are close in spirit.’
The pair love spending time together, and Debbie has embraced her Guest’s culture by helping at Ukrainian events and even dancing a Ukrainian dance.
‘It has been a pleasure to watch her grow in confidence, improve her English, and build friendships,’ says Debbie. She believes Nataliia will always be part of her life and she’ll support her whenever she needs her.
Helping people through the worst times
Debbie says the experience has been a deeply rewarding thing to do, and has felt supported by East Sussex County Council, and by groups such as Lewes Helps Ukraine. There are many other support groups and networks available to Hosts and Guests.
Nataliia’s advice to future Hosts wanting to welcome Guests from Ukraine is to be patient and open. She finishes our chat by thanking Debbie for allowing her the chance to live in peace and grace.
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Jobs round-up
The latest jobs for guests interested in a new career?
Is your guest looking for a new job? We've the latest selection of roles and learning and training opportunities to help your guest get the job they want.
Learn more about the latest available roles in:
Useful contacts
Welfare checks
It's really important to us that all Ukrainian guests are safe and well. As we continue to carry out welfare visits for all guests who have been living with their hosts for six months or more.
The purpose of the welfare visit is to check guests are safe and well, confirm your guests are still living at your property and to provide advice, guidance and information to you and your guest(s). It also provides you the opportunity to express any concerns or difficulties you might be having. We would appreciate the cooperation of guests and hosts when welfare visits are arranged with you.
If you found this a useful guide to hosting our Ukrainian guests, then why not share it with a friend so they can sign up to our monthly newsletter and stay informed of all the latest Homes for Ukraine news. You can read previous newsletters at our host newsletter archive.
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