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Welcome to your dedicated newsletter for Homes for Ukraine Hosts in East Sussex.
This month we've important news of changes guests - and hosts - need to be aware of. Please make sure you read these sections of the newsletter carefully. They include:
- payments for people hosting a close relative
- the Ukrainian Permission Extension (UPE) process - and how it might affect host payments
- e-visa application help and guidance
We also bring news of a scam Universal Credit app. Please make your guests aware so they're not caught out by it.
We've our usual listing of job opportunities, which many guests find useful.
We're also reminding you to have some fun. We've great ideas to inspire in our monthly ‘What’s On’ feature, including things to do for Halloween, Bonfire Night and UK Remembrance Day.
Following this, we’re privileged to share host Kathryn Burton's story. If you'd like to share your story, please email us or call 01273 337010.
Many thanks, to all hosts that do so much for our community of Ukrainian guests in East Sussex.
From 1 October 2024, people who host close family members will not be eligible to start claiming host thank you payments.
This applies to new arrivals and those who are already in the UK and move in with a close family member.
This change in policy only affects new claims for host thank you payments – any existing arrangements are not affected.
Further information on this change can be found here.
Hosts are being reminded that ‘thank you’ payments might end once guests transition onto their Ukrainian Permission Extension (UPE).
The host ‘thank you’ payments are funded by central government. We're waiting to hear if this funding will be available for hosts who accommodate guests on the UPE scheme.
We're contacting hosts and guests who might be affected by the UPE scheme in 2025.
What is the Ukrainian Permission Extension?
Guests have to apply for their UPE three months before the expiry of their original three-year visa.
The extension allows a Ukrainian guest to stay in the UK a further 18 months. But it's a standalone scheme, rather than being an extension of the same visa.
We'll bring you further news and details on how to apply for the UPE as soon as we can.
If you'd like more information on the potential changes, email Ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk.
Guests will need to replace their Biometric Residents Permit (BRP) card with the e-visa by 31 December 2024.
This must be done by all guests as soon as possible. Please ignore any rumours that you can wait until the Home Office send you a letter.
The process involves creating a UKVI digital account. Further details and a link to apply for an e-visa is on the UK government's website.
Step-by-step guide
BHT Sussex has developed an informational guide to help guests create an account to apply for an e-Visa.
The step-by-step guide is for Ukrainians living in East Sussex under the Homes for Ukraine program, have a UKRAINE SCHEME visa and a UK residence permit (BRP).
Click here to access the guide.
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Help is available for guests who find the digital processes difficult from People Matter. If you live in East Sussex, and need support to apply, contact People Matter via:
- Email: reception@people-matter.org.uk
- Phone: 01323 431289
- Mobile: 07843 190738
There's also in-person help available at the following Ukrainian hubs:
Eastbourne:
Bexhill:
- Wednesdays, 11am to 2pm
- Beulah Baptist Church, Buckhurst Road, Bexhill, East Sussex, TN40 1QA
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Bexhillukrhub@gmail.com or call: 07709 116 163
Hastings:
- Mondays, 11am to1:30pm
- Holy Trinity Hastings Church, Robertson Street, Hastings, TN34 1HT
- jac.williams@hthchurch.org
Lewes:
There's additional information on applying for an e-visa and FREE support from the We Are Group if you need help to:
- complete online forms
- use the internet
- use a computer, tablet or mobile device.
There's further advice on the Gov.UK website, where you can:
Guests are being warned about a fake Universal Credit app, which is not linked to Universal Credit or gov.uk websites. The App asks for users log-in and personal details.
Guests are reminded this is not an official, or endorsed, site and they should only log in through the Universal Credit webpage on gov.uk
Sign in to your Universal Credit account.
It's estimated up to 880,000 households are missing out on Pension Credit. It's worth, on average, £3,900 per year, and provides additional benefits such as help with Council Tax, Housing Benefit and a free TV licence for those over 75.
Please encourage anyone of pension age or over to check the Pension Credit calculator to see if they're entitled.
Pension Credit backdating rules mean it's possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to three months – providing the person is entitled to during that time.
The latest date to apply, and still qualify for Winter Fuel Payment, is 21 December.
Click here for more information.
Are you looking for something interesting to do this month? We've some great ideas for you:
Easier way to get about
If you find it hard to get around East Sussex because you live in areas with limited or no public transport then why not try Flexibus.
The on-demand ride share service can help connect you with your local area and the wider public transport network so you can visit more of our wonderful county.
Flexibus operates Monday to Saturday 7am-7pm, excluding Bank Holidays.
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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.
Being a host: my story so far...
It wasn’t a hard decision to help when we saw the news that Russia had invaded Ukraine and hosts were needed for fleeing families, writes host Kathryn Burton (third from right).
We had the space; our house has a basement flat which we used mainly as our utility room. It had a sitting room, double bed and bathroom, which we used for guests. Our thinking was also informed by my husband’s experiences as a child; during the second world war, his mother was involved in finding accommodation for children coming to England on the Kindertransport.
I contacted an intermediary placing Ukrainians in the UK, who a friend had told me about. After a couple of video calls on WhatsApp with the family, a bizarre and unnerving situation, we agreed to host a mother and two teenage girls.
Meeting our guests
Our guests arrived three weeks later. I met them at 10pm at Lewes Station. They had travelled all day from Liverpool, which was the nearest flight to Lewes they could get. The oldest daughter, Masha aged 18, spoke good English. We quickly learned they were very digitally savvy, much more so than ourselves. They were able to cross London and negotiate all the trains and fares with ease. This was two years and three months ago. They have just moved on to renting accommodation.
At the beginning we ate together and shared our kitchen, and spent a lot of time talking and sharing experiences, often on Google translate when all else failed. Like us, they thought they would be in the UK for several months. But the reality soon became clear. There have been some very hard times for them emotionally, especially for the mother Oksana. She's had to accept separation from her parents, husband and wider family, as well as losing her career as a lawyer. She spoke no English, so was only able to find cleaning jobs, which has been hard. However, her English has gradually improved enough to get a job in a bakery, and this has enabled her to become more independent. Life has been a little easier for the girls, because they could speak English. They have seamlessly coped with school, and, for Masha, university.
We gained so much
People often say to me that it's very good of us to accommodate them for so long. On the contrary, we have gained so much from meeting them. Not least to have had insights into the realities of war and its consequences. I have never felt anything but glad to have met them.
We knew almost nothing about Ukraine before they came, and our lives have been enriched by knowing them and their culture, we feel sure we will be in touch with them for the rest of our lives.
My message to hosts
If anyone reading this is thinking of hosting, I would say do consider it but think carefully about the reality of sharing your home. My sense is it was important for them to have their own space, away from us, which our flat gave them. Newly arrived guests also need practical help and advice, and an understanding of the challenges they face. However, it has proved to be a very rewarding experience for us all.
Useful contacts
Homes for Ukraine contact centre. If you need advice, call 01273 337010 (pick Option 1 to speak to someone in English, Option 2 to speak to someone in Ukrainian) or email ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk.
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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