Support for Ukraine

If you want to offer a home to people fleeing Ukraine you can become a sponsor as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Register as an individual or as an organisation at GOV.UK: Register interest Homes for Ukraine.

The Government is asking for people to offer accommodation for at least six months, for it to be fit for people to live in and suitable for the number of people to be accommodated.

The most important thing is that you are able to provide at least six months of stable accommodation. This can be anything from an empty room to an unoccupied home, as long as it's safe, heated and free from health hazards, and gives your guests adequate access to bathroom and kitchen facilities.

The Government will provide an optional £350 monthly payment to those offering accommodation.

Council tax discounts will not be affected if you sponsor and host a Ukrainian household in your home. The government is offering a £350 a month 'thank you' payment to all sponsors - this will not affect any council tax discounts.

Just accommodation. However, there is nothing stopping sponsors offering meals should they wish. You will not be expected to cover the costs of food and living expenses (although you may wish to offer this philanthropically).

All those from Ukraine coming to the country under the scheme will be able to apply for benefits and to seek and take up employment.

There are other organisations who will be able to offer support on things like access to benefits, registering with a GP, school placements and more. The government is also asking local authorities to provide wrap-around support for guests and is providing new funding for councils to do so.

Those arriving will have met standard security checks against the police national computer database and antiterrorism checks as part of the visa application process.
Sponsors and all adults in the sponsor household will also be subject to standard security checks as part of the visa process.

The government advice explains your local authority will also visit you to check that the accommodation you are offering is appropriate and that everything is in place for your guest(s). The local authority will also conduct a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all adults in your household. This is typically required for people who work closely with children and vulnerable adults - teachers, doctors, social workers, civil servants - and is a simple, standard safety check. You will receive a certificate valid for two years. These checks and the process will be expedited.

For those who are sponsoring a Ukrainian family which includes a child or a vulnerable adult, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with Barred Lists check will be conducted.

In the first instance you can register your interest.

Charities, businesses and faith and community groups will have a big role to play in connecting individuals with those who wish to sponsor and wish to be sponsored and of course providing an excellent welcome to individuals arriving to the UK.

In future the government will work to help organisations to allow them to directly sponsor individuals, but they are starting with named individual contacts.

More information at GOV.UK: Guidance Homes for Ukraine scheme: frequently asked questions.

Wiltshire libraries has pulled together a list of children's books about refugees and war for children who may have questions about what is happening in Ukraine.
There are also resources from a range of sources including BBC Bitesize with suggestions for how to speak to your teenager about the invasion of Ukraine.

The information is based on our Healthy Schools pages at Wiltshire Healthy Schools: Talking to children about the war in Ukraine Thursday 3 March 2022.

The page also has resources teachers can use.

Visit   or National charities collecting for Ukraine.