Coventry City Council has worked hard over the past few weeks with key partners to put together an effective support response to the likelihood of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Coventry.
It is publicising the governments ‘Homes for Ukraine’ Scheme as a new route for those without existing connections to the UK.
The Scheme will allow sponsors, such as households, businesses and communities, to bring Ukrainian nationals and their families to the UK for up to three years.
The application for phase one, which allows individual sponsors to support named Ukrainians, opened on 18 March.
Read more on the Homes for Ukraine Scheme on the following Government webpages:
- https://www.gov.uk/register-interest-homes-ukraine – for potential sponsors, and
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/support-for-family-members-of-british-nationals-in-ukraine-and-ukrainian-nationals-in-ukraine-and-the-uk#if-youre-ukrainian-and-you-dont-have-family-in-the-uk – for Ukrainian individuals with no family connections in the UK.
Coventry City Council is also working closely with voluntary and community sector organisations “to ensure the necessary preparations are in place to provide sanctuary to Ukrainian people and families arriving in the city. This will include ensuring safeguarding arrangements and necessary support to both those arriving and sponsors”.
Further information about support from the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre can be found at – https://www.covrefugee.org/ .
More information about the Coventry branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain can be found at – https://www.facebook.com/CoventryUkrainianCommunity/
Ukrainians already in the UK with a visa will be able to extend their stay by extending their visa or switching to another immigration route, where eligible, even if their visa does not normally allow them to do so.
For more information on the support available for Ukrainian refugees visit – https://www.coventry.gov.uk/welcoming-ukrainian-guests-coventry/welcoming-ukraine-guests-coventry .
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Note – Coventry Citizens Advice continue to deliver a dedicated telephone advice line for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Coventry. Call 02476 252 067 between Monday and Friday (9:00-16:00) to access this service. If calling outside of these times, a message can be left.
