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Welcome to your dedicated newsletter for Homes for Ukraine Hosts in East Sussex.
This month marks the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. To help you mark the occasion with our guests and hosts we've highlighted some events taking place throughout East Sussex.
We've got important news about council-tax discounts - and whether you and your guest(s) is entitled to them.
The end of the school year might feel a long way off, but it's worth starting to think about the choices your young guest(s) have when they finish school. Whether they are academic or looking for an apprenticeship an upcoming jobs fair could be a very useful event for them.
And, if you're wanting some Rest and Recuperation we've some great activities in our regular round up of ‘what’s on’ across East Sussex, including a Ukrainian choir book launch.
This month, we've Gail’s host story which includes details of a special project she has been involved with. If you'd like to share your story, please email us or call 01273 337010.
Many thanks, to all hosts who do so much for our community of Ukrainian guests in East Sussex.
This month will mark the three year anniversary of the full-scale invasion of the Ukraine by Russia.
We hope you're able to show support at one of the events being held across the county for those people who are still fighting in Ukraine and the displaced refugees.
Hailsham
A candlelit vigil is being held at the the War Memorial on 23 February. People are asked to start gathering at 6pm for a 7pm start. There'll be a minute silence followed by a minute of applause. For more information see the What's On Hailsham website.
Rye
An event to remember the casualties of the conflict and its impact on families will be held on 24 February at the Town Hall at 4pm. There'll be tea and chat at the Baptist Church afterwards.
Bexhill
Culbaba Theatre is hosting an event at the Bexhill war memorial on 22 February at noon. A quiet tea gathering will be held afterwards at The Good Story Bistro.
Hastings
People are meeting at Holy Trinity Hastings Church Hall on 24 February at 11:45am. They'll then walk to Stade Hall with the Ukrainian flag. There will be prayers, poems and readings.
Lewes
Ukrainian Hearts has organised a remembrance in two parts. The official part takes place between 12.30 to 2.30pm at Depot Studio. The second part will be a flag march to the war memorial for a flower tribute between 3pm to 3.30pm.
The guidance around council-tax payments for hosts and guests has been updated.
Hosts
Under the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, only those who previously held Homes for Ukraine (HfU) visas and remain in sponsorship will continue to be exempt from paying council tax.
Sponsorship is defined as living in a home provided by a sponsor/host who is entitled to thank you payments in connection to HfU, including those available to UPE sponsors/hosts.
Guests
Guests with a HfU visa may be entitled to a 50% council-tax discount if they live alone or if all the other adults they live with have a Homes for Ukraine visa.
Please note, when guests move onto a Ukraine Permission Extension visa, this discount will no longer apply.
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If you are hosting young people, you may be interested to know about their options after finishing school.
In England, Year 11 children can leave school on the last Friday in June - as long as they will be aged 16 by the end of the summer holidays (around the beginning of September).
This can be an anxious time for young people, their families and hosts.
To help ease those anxieties, the Careers East Sussex website has information about further study, employment and apprenticeship opportunities for young people.
A Ukrainian version of the webpage is available.
The UPE scheme opened for applications on 4 February. The scheme grants guests a further 18-months stay in the UK.
The UK Government has provided details on eligibility and the application process, and information on the documentation guests need to apply for the visa.
It’s important guests read and fully understand the details contained in the guidance when applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme.
Ukrainians in the UK on the Ukraine visa schemes can apply for the UPE visa scheme 28 days before their existing visa expires.
Thank you payments are continuing for hosts on both the Homes for Ukraine scheme and Ukrainian Permission Extension (UPE).
Thank you payments will be paid at £350 a month from 1 April. Hosts will be able to apply for thank you payments once their guest has applied for the UPE.
Additional details regarding 'thank you' payments can be found in our host letter.
Hosts are being reminded to ask guest(s) to send us their share code (a personal identifier that proves a worker's immigration status).
This is because if we've only got a guest's estimated visa-expiry date your thank you payments could be impacted.
We'd be grateful if you can ask your guest to send details of their share code to Ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk.
Your guest can update their details by logging into their e-Visa account. The government website has further details on how to provide a share code.
It's still possible for guests to apply for their eVisa. Further details on how to do that can be found on the government website.
Guests must keep their UKVI account up to date with their latest passport/travel document and contact details. Guests will need their in-date physical immigration documents when travelling internationally. Guests are not permitted to travel without a valid passport.
Please note, if a passport is due to expire, it’s the guest’s responsibility to apply for renewal. Guests can contact the Ukrainian Embassy in London or Edinburgh for advice on how to do this.
Some great events are being held during the next few weeks in our communities. We’ve collected some of the activities happening from mid-February through March.
Volya Voices Choir book launch
An exhibition is being held at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill to celebrate the launch of the Voices of Volya: A Portrait of a Ukrainian Choir book.
The exhibition includes images of the Voices of Volya Choir taken by photographer Dave Mason.
To celebrate the book, the choir will perform for 20 minutes at the following times:
- Saturday 1 March at 11am and 2pm
- Saturday 15 March at 11am and 2pm
Learn more about the exhibition here.
Ukrainian dance lessons
Ukrainian dance teacher Tetiana Shapoval is holding classes for 6-10 year olds who wish to learn the basics of classical Ukrainian dance, explore elements of Folk dance and practice floor gymnastics.
The lessons will focus on developing flexibility, grace and coordination and will be led in the Ukrainian language.
They are suitable for all, from beginners to those with some experience.
For more information visit the South East Dance website.
An easier way to travel
If you live in an area 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? The latest selection of roles and learning and training opportunities to help your guest get the job they want is available online.
Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair
Whether getting back to work, wanting to upskill or simply looking for a new career path, this event will give attendees the chance to learn more about:
- live job opportunities
- apprenticeships
- skills development
- further learning from BTECs and degrees to recreational courses
- creative Industries for young people
- talks, workshops & CV checking.
The event is in association with Bexhill College. It's being held at De La Warr Pavilion on Friday 21 March between 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Find out more here.
Being a host: my story so far...
On 24 February, 2022, I watched the BBC news in horror as tanks rolled across the border of Ukraine heading towards Kyiv, writes Collette.
I found it hard to comprehend why this was happening, had the world not seen enough bloodshed. In the following days Ukraine, led by its president Zelensky, began building its army to resist this invasion. On UK television screens we saw Ukrainian families being torn apart as people went to fight whilst others fled to protect their children.
As a mother of three adult sons, my heart went out to those mothers whom I saw suffering.
Helping the people
I talked to one of my sons about my desire to help. He replied that with my experience as a teacher of twenty years, and sixteen as a nurse that I should think about the skills I had acquired and use these.
With his wise words in my mind, I realised my strengths lay in helping the people fleeing from Ukraine who were trying to find a safe haven in East Sussex.
I started asking colleagues and friends if they could provide suitable accommodation. I began to communicate with Ukrainians needing assistance and found sponsors for them. I have found numerous ways to help ever since.
Settling in East Sussex
The Ukrainian people I've met have been so strong in the face of such adversity. They're trying to build lives for themselves in this country, learning our language and our customs, finding work, and making new friends.
Their children have settled into local schools, colleges, and universities. They should all look back at the last three years with pride at how much they have achieved and how resilient they have been during such a challenging time in their lives.
Some Ukrainians have wanted to do more to help those still in their homeland fighting for their country. So they have thought of many ways to raise funds to send medical equipment to Ukraine.
Musicians have played and choirs have formed in areas all over Sussex. They have shared their culture, traditions, and food with the local communities they live in. I know they would like this opportunity to thank all those who have shown kindness and support and generously donated or helped them.
Book launch
The Volya Voices Choir (pictured above) in Bexhill was one of these newly formed choirs. A group of women mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters, and nieces from different areas of Ukraine who came together in the Ukrainian Hub set up at The Beulah Baptist Church in Bexhill.
Singing familiar songs and performing traditional dances has helped them to remember Ukraine and start to heal.
Professional photographer David Mason has produced and published a book telling the individual stories of the members of the Volya Voices Choir. The book includes photographs, quotes, and comments.
See the above 'What's On' section for further details of the book launch and exhibition.
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.
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.
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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