Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees to Mole Valley
Mole Valley District Council is proud to welcome Ukrainian refugees to our beautiful district. We are currently busy working on the Homes for Ukraine scheme ensuring that hosts have the essential information and support to enable their Ukrainian guests to settle into our community, as well as completing all the required safety checks.
Surrey County Council’s website Support for Ukrainian Nationals provides useful information on services available. There is also an especially helpful page on Surrey Information Point listing organisations across Surrey which have offered help, support, and advice for Ukrainians living in Surrey, and places where offers of help or donations can be made.
The UK's Community Sponsorship learning hub, Reset, has released a sponsor toolkit available to anyone welcoming Ukrainian guests through the Homes for Ukraine programme. The toolkit provides ideas and ways you can support those who arrive and will be followed by further training and support.
Read the questions and answers on how the Homes for Ukraine scheme will work Homes for Ukraine FAQs
Government funded pairing scheme is a scheme that offers matching, training and support services to sponsors and refugees.
Continuation of Increased Sponsorship Payment for Homes for Ukraine Hosts
It has been agreed by Surrey County Council and all Surrey districts and boroughs that the ‘thank you’ payment made each month to all hosts will remain at the increased rate of £600. This is in recognition of ongoing cost of living increases as well as appreciation for support for guests. This sponsorship payment will remain at this level until March 2024.
Further information is available on Surrey County Council's website.
Barnardo's free helpline to support Ukrainian families
Barnardo's has set up a helpline to provide support for Ukrainian families. The helpline is for anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, including children and families arriving in the UK. It offers help and advice on a range of topics.
Barnardo's free helpline (0800 148 8586) has English speakers and interpreters in Ukrainian and Russian. It is open Monday to Friday (10am-8pm) and Saturday (10am-3pm).
A dedicated email address ukrainiansupport@barnardos.org.uk and webpage have also been set up for those helping with the Ukraine response.
Barnardo's Ukrainian support line
UK Government’s response to Russian invasion of Ukraine
The UK and its international partners condemn the Russian government’s unprovoked and premeditated war against Ukraine.
The UK government stands with Ukraine and is providing a range of economic, humanitarian and defensive military assistance to Ukraine. It is also imposing sanctions on Russia and its ally, Belarus. More information is available on the GOV.UK website.
British citizens are advised not to travel to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus. British nationals should leave Ukraine immediately if it is safe to do so and any person settled in the UK can bring over immediate family from Ukraine.
Mole Valley District Council continues to look at contracts and suppliers to ensure that there are no links with Russia.
You can read about the role of councils in supporting the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Please note Surrey County Council will have responsibility for some areas, including education and social care.
Role of councils in supporting the scheme
Homes for Ukraine Scheme privacy notice
What to do if you wish to help
British nationals who want to support the people of Ukraine are being urged to ‘give safely’ by using registered, regulated and established charities with experience of responding to disasters.
The best way to ensure a charity is genuine and your money is being used effectively is to check its name and registration number before giving any financial information, responding to emails or clicking on links sent to you. If in any doubt, ask the charity for more information.
More information around donating is available on the GOV.UK website. A suggested route to ‘give safely’ to a number of charities providing humanitarian aid is also available.
The government has committed to establishing a 'humanitarian sponsorship pathway' whereby people from Ukraine, who may not have family in the UK, can be sponsored to come to this country by individuals, businesses or community organisations. More information is available on the GOV.UK website.
One such avenue of support for Ukrainian's children - many of whom are now refugees - is available from Better time stories. Donations received will help reconnect families from Ukraine by way of an interactive book with comforting stories.
The Leader’s statement on the Ukraine crisis
Councillor Stephen Cooksey, Leader of Mole Valley District Council, said: “We strongly condemn the unprovoked and appalling actions of Russian forces this past week. The people of Ukraine and anyone who lives in Mole Valley with family or friends who are still either in, or have been displaced from the country, should know that they are in the thoughts of myself, Members and staff of this council.”
Read the statement in full here