Advice and information for Ukrainian families and hosts
The following was shared in a Wiltshire newsletter to all town and parish councils. For more information on support available for Ukrainian refugees and local hosts, please visit the Support for Ukraine section of the Wiltshire Council website.
Dear Town and Parish Councils,
We have now translated our 'Welcome pack for Ukrainian refugees' into Ukrainian as well as English. The government has added a Ukrainian translation to the guidance on what Ukrainian guests need to do before they travel to the UK and what they do after they arrive.
English for Speakers of Other Languages courses are being delivered across the county by the Wiltshire Council Family and Community Learning team at a number of locations. The full list of courses for August can be found here. Further details and information can be found at: www.workwiltshire.co.uk/young/othercountries. Host families with Ukraine guests can register their interest in a course by emailing familyandcommunitylearning@wiltshire.gov.uk
With the summer holidays approaching, there are a host of activities being planned across the county. School age children from Ukrainian families are eligible to attend our FUEL (Food, Unity, Energy, Laughter) programmes - providing free access to enriching activities and nutritious food.
Between Monday 25 July and Wednesday 31 August, Wiltshire Council swimming pools will be offering free swimming to Ukrainian children under the age of 16 who are in the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Sponsors/guests will be sent a voucher to print off or show from their mobile device on each visit.
Currently in Wiltshire 606 households have been matched with 1,466 individuals. There have been 307 school applications –with 268 school places already secured.
For your reference, the community hubs we have been made aware of are found on this page Community support - Wiltshire Council
General Ukraine FAQs are here and specific ones for sponsor FAQS are here. If there are specific questions related to being a host or providing community support people can email H4U@wiltshire.gov.uk.
The Wiltshire Together website is also a good source of advice and information and also has details on community support, including a page on Supporting Wiltshire's Refugees.
We are not currently made aware of Ukraine nationals coming under the family scheme. If you are aware of people arriving as part of the families scheme rather than the Homes for Ukraine scheme, please ask hosts to contact us on H4U@wiltshire.gov.uk. Individuals on the family scheme, just as on the Homes for Ukraine scheme, can access services, registering with the GP, access benefits and education. On our Wiltshire Council website, we have a help in a crisis page which anyone can access for information on support available. Help in a crisis - Wiltshire Council
Thank you
Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council
