Some fantastic news for you.
Gloucestershire County Council and the Homes for Ukraine team have recently carried out a review of the thank you payments made to hosts. To recognise all the fantastic help and support you give to our guests, we have increased the payments to £600 per month. This is regardless of the length of time you have been a host, and is effective immediately.
New hosts will receive £600 per month once they have passed all the relevant checks and their guests have arrived.
Some guests are starting to consider how they move on from the HFU scheme and gain independence in their own homes. Guests planning to move into private rented accommodation will soon be able to apply for some financial help. Details of the scheme will be announced over the coming weeks.
Do you know somebody who could be a host?
Gloucestershire’s Homes for Ukraine team is always looking for people who can offer a Ukrainian guest a safe place to stay under the HFU scheme. We are looking for possible new hosts who might have a second home, rental property, annex, or spare rooms anywhere in Gloucestershire, but particularly in the Cheltenham area.
If a member of your family, friends or neighbours would be interested in supporting someone fleeing war for at least six months, please register their interest here and a member of the HFU team will contact them.
Find out more about becoming a host and offering support to Ukrainian's here:
Mental health and wellbeing
A year ago, we started to welcome our Ukrainian guests. They were understandably wary about what their future held. Some are still traumatised and uncertain. They have had to leave their home country and seek a life with little security in the UK and whilst the help we have offered has improved over the last year, we also recognise there are still situations where they need our support.
We are also aware that you as hosts can be affected by the worries and feelings your guests experience. The following link is a reminder of the support and help available to everybody who needs it.
Eurovision events
Did you know that this year's Eurovision song contest is being held in the UK this year on behalf of Ukraine who were last years winners? The final is being held in Liverpool on the evening of the 13th of May but is also being live screened across the country. In Gloucestershire we are working with local community groups, Ukrainian associations and cinemas to ensure that we can all enjoy a night of fun and celebration together.
We will share a list of Eurovision events and parties over the next few weeks so that you can plan your Eurovision evening with other Ukrainian friends, families and hosts.
If you plan to hold a private party, with your permission, we would like you to share pictures and quotes for the next newsletter.
Six and twelve month visits
We would like to remind you that we will be continuing to carry out a six and twelve month face to face follow up visit with you and your guests. A member of the Homes for Ukraine team will be in touch by phone and e-mail to arrange this with you at a mutually convenient time. It is a visit which ideally both you and your guest(s) should attend.
These visits are intended to make sure both you and your guests are happy with your current arrangements. We will also have the opportunity to discuss any issues or answer any questions you may have in person. These may be about future accommodation options, how to access further support, or linking with other Ukrainians and community groups.
If you want to ask anything outside of these meetings, please visit our frequently asked questions on the GCC website.
Or contact us at the Homes for Ukraine team e-mail and a member of the team will be happy to help you.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Volunteering
As a gateway to employment, volunteering is a great way to feel valued and improve our guests' confidence in their English speaking and writing skills. These roles will help prepare them as they look for future employment.
There are many opportunities across the county, including charity shops, foodbanks, kitchens, care work, schools and even conservation work.
Some examples of volunteering opportunities may be:
If you are aware of a group, charity or even an employee who offers work experience, please let us know here at the HFU team and we will help promote opportunities, as appropriate.
Thank you
Meet the HFU team
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Matthew Parker – Operations Manager
Having spent 22 years working in public transport management, the COVID pandemic saw me change direction completely and join GCC initially in COVID operations and then with the Homes for Ukraine scheme. My role is Operations Manager which sees me looking after the day-to-day tasks we undertake and helping the rest of the team with any issues that arise. As someone that enjoys getting things to work, I was thrilled to receive a plaque that read “fixer of everything” as my HFU Team secret Santa present.
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Theo Brayford – Response Officer
I jumped on board right at the start of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and ever since have been doing whatever I can to keep our hosts and guest happy and safe.
I am one of the several case workers who step in when things get tough for households here in the UK, maintain payments records for hosts, and generally offer help and support to the team by being the resident technology guru.
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Whether you celebrated Easter last weekend, or will celebrate Orthodox Easter this weekend, the Homes for Ukraine Team wish everyone a Happy Easter.
Here is a selection of beautiful pysanka, made by Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Gloucester Branch (in the group picture above). Pysanka are waxed, painted real eggs with beautiful patterns, decorations and writing on. It is a traditional Ukrainian craft during Easter season.
You can read more about this Easter tradition here.
Useful information
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