How Lancaster people can help refugees fleeing war-torn Ukraine

As well as sending money and aid, people in the UK are now able to open their homes to Ukrainians fleeing the war after the Government opened its Houses for Ukraine scheme.

Under the project, private individuals can sponsor a Ukrainian family or individual to live in their home.

The sponsor must complete a visa form and will then undergo DBS checks and have a home visit from their local council to ensure that their house is suitable to house refugees.

Sponsors must commit to a minimum of six months of hosting. The majority of the guests arriving will be women and mothers with their children as Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to stay and fight, although there are some exceptions.

All this can seem very daunting, particularly if you have not volunteered with refugees before. However, there is plenty of support in Lancaster as we have been a City of Sanctuary since 2016, welcoming asylum seekers and refugees from all over the world who have had to leave their countries due to war or political oppression.

Mandy Whitehouse, who lives in Lancaster, has set up a Facebook group called ‘Lancaster Hosting Ukrainians’ and is inviting people who are interested in being sponsors to join the group to find out more.

She hopes to put sponsors in touch with one another for mutual support and organise some events to welcome Ukrainian guests once they arrive.

Mandy has volunteered with East meets West, a support group for asylum seeker and refugee women, since 2019 and is treasurer and a trustee of Friends of Chernobyl’s Children – Lancaster, a charity which organises recuperative holidays for children from Belarus on a five-year programme.

Another member of Lancaster hosting Ukrainians, Paula Wilson, is approaching local businesses and arts venues to see what they can offer in the way of help to familiarise refugees with the local area once they arrive.

Mandy is hoping that Lancaster Hosting Ukrainians will be working with a group in Caton to match Lancastrians with families in Ukraine as Anna, who established the group, has contacts in Poland with a Ukrainian refugee camp and it would be beneficial to bring refugees from the same geographical area here so that they have a support network of family, friends and neighbours once they arrive in the Lancaster district.

If you would like to find out more about sponsorship or how you can help our Ukrainian guests once they arrive, or would like to find out about how to help refugees from other parts of the world now living in Lancaster, contact one of the organisations mentioned below.

Rais (refugee and asylum seekers information service): https://www.facebook.com/raislancaster/, www.rais.org.uk or email [email protected]

East meets West (friendship and support for women from around the world): https://www.facebook.com/eastmeetswestlancaster/ or email [email protected]

Global Link https: //www.facebook.com/globallink.dec/ or www.globalink.org.uk

City of Sanctuary: https://cityofsanctuary.org/2022/03/02/how-you-can-support-the-people-of-ukraine/

Lancashire County Council Refugee Integration Team: Email [email protected]

Homes for Ukraine Lancaster: https://www.facebook.com/groups/639195157148072/

Lancaster hosting Ukrainians (information and support for those considering hosting): https://www.facebook.com/groups/416833720255048/ or email [email protected]

Caton and friends for Ukraine: https://www.facebook.com/groups/catonandfriendsforukraine/

Friends of Chernobyl’s Children - Lancaster: www.focc.org.uk

Coun Caroline Jackson, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “I am truly proud of how local organisations, communities and individuals have opened up their hearts and homes to refugees and asylum seekers seeking sanctuary in the area, having escaped the unimaginable terrors of war, violence and oppression in their homeland.

“Over the years, the city council has witnessed the development of a strong and committed network of volunteers, specialist organisations, statutory bodies, voluntary and faith sector organisations to welcome new citizens into the area and ensure they have everything they need to settle into their new homes and communities.

“Lancaster City Council alongside its partners have already played a vital role in helping vulnerable individuals and families make new homes and friends in the area by supporting the government’s Syrian, Afghanistan and UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) and Asylum Seeker Dispersal Programme.

“Some of the stories which have unfolded so far about those who have been forced to leave their country and managed to start a new successful chapter in their life here whilst helping others to do the same, is utterly inspirational.

“Helping to build on this, we are now preparing to support Lancashire County Council in facilitating the arrival and accommodating of those affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine under the government’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

“This scheme allows Ukrainian families with no family ties to the UK to be sponsored by individuals or organisations who can offer them a home such as a spare room or unoccupied residential self-contained unit.

“Once notified of a link up with a local sponsor, one of our responsibilities will be to ensure the standard of housing being offered by sponsors is of a good standard and meets the needs of those to be temporarily homed there.

“In playing a key role in supporting the integration of Ukranian families into or local communities, we continue to hold regular meetings with our partners and other supporting bodies and individuals to share ideas on how this can be achieved. Anyone who wishes to get involved should get in touch via [email protected]

“I’d like to take this opportunity on behalf of Lancaster City Council to thank groups and individuals from across the district that have already done so much to support Ukraine, from sending donations to expressing an interest in hosting refugees.

“Until it is time to extend a warm welcome to our new arrivals from Ukraine, anyone wishing to help the refugees who remain in neighbouring countries, particularly those in our twin town of Lublin, Poland can do so via a new fundraising page set up by Lancaster District CVS.

"Just three weeks in and thanks to the generosity of local people, more than £5,000 has already been donated towards the cause. For more information and to make a donation, visit the Bay Foundation Section of www.lancastercvs.org.uk”