Support and welcome for arrivals from Ukraine

For sponsors or hosts of Ukrainian refugees

Thank you

Thank you from Southend-on-Sea City Council, for your generosity in offering help and your home to families fleeing war in Ukraine.

We recognise the scale of the commitment this is on your part, and are here to support you wherever we are able to, to ensure you and your guests have a smooth transition.

We have put together some practical information, and have outlined some of the key services you and your guests may need, so you can help them settle in to the UK, be-it for the short-term, or for a longer term arrangement.

Your guests are likely to need space for them to process their experiences, practical support in getting set up in their lives in the UK, and a warm and friendly home for them to feel safe.

Thank you for providing this help and warmth, and please do contact us if you need support.

The Homes for Ukraine scheme

Here are some quick facts for sponsors about the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

If you haven’t had them already, there will be checks (background and in-person) on you, your family and the accommodation that you will provide.

Current government guidance is that any benefits entitlements remain unchanged if you take in a Ukrainian person or people.

If you receive single person discount on your council tax, this remains unchanged if you take in a Ukrainian person or people.

Ukrainian people arriving under the scheme will be able to:

  • live and work in the UK for up to three years
  • access healthcare, benefits, employment support, education, and English language tuition

For frequently asked questions about the scheme, visit the Gov.UK website

Upon arrival

If you haven’t already done so, when your guest(s) arrive, please email resettlement@southend.gov.uk with the following information:

  • Your name
  • Your address
  • Name(s) of the guest(s)
  • Whether your guests include children aged 0 to 18 year old
  • Date of arrival

In the subject line put: Homes for Ukraine Arrival Notification: [add your surname here]

This will help us to make sure safeguarding and accommodation checks, thank you payments, and support for children can be arranged.

If you do not have access to email, please phone us on 01702 215000 and give the above information who will pass it on to the relevant teams.

Support

Please see the other pages in this section for contacts for financial, mental health, social, education and other related support.

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