Residents in Bristol are being encouraged to come forward to host Ukrainian refugees in their homes. City mayor Marvin Rees announced a call for people to become sponsors of those fleeing the conflict under a new government-backed scheme, Homes for Ukraine.
He told a full council meeting of Bristol City Council last night (Tuesday, March 15) it would cover Ukrainians and their immediate relatives, including those with no family ties in Britain. Mr Rees said sponsors must provide accommodation for at least six months and were eligible for an optional £350 monthly “thank-you payment” for up to a year.
He said: “We are inviting Bristol residents who have friends and family in Ukraine who they would like to sponsor to come to Bristol to get in touch with our resettlement team. Those who come under the scheme will be able to live and work in the UK for up to three years and access benefits, healthcare, employment and other support. The visa application route goes live on Friday, March 18.
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“In the first phase, people will need to have a named person who they wish to sponsor. There is no cap on places. In terms of local authority resourcing we will be receiving £10,500 per person with an additional top-up for child education.
“There will be security checks of hosts and safeguarding which local authorities are responsible for. We are awaiting further details about the scheme. We also welcome any individuals or organisations who can offer practical support in neighbourhoods to get in touch, particularly those with Ukrainian, Russian or Polish language skills to help us coordinate, support and welcome new residents arriving in the city.”
The mayor said Bristol was a proud City of Sanctuary with a long track record. He said: “As a city council we have resettled 380 people from the Middle East and North Africa before Covid.
“Since April 2021 we have resettled 30 people through the UK Resettlement Scheme and we will resettle another six families before the end of April. The families include people with high medical needs and people who were persecuted because they are from a minority ethnic or religious group in their home country.
“Since the Afghan crisis in summer 2021 we have supported 303 Afghans in temporary accommodation in Bristol and have provided move-on settled accommodation and private rented sector housing to 105 Afghans. We know that Bristolians have stepped up to these appeals in the past and will respond to this one too. Our whole ethos and our values in the city mean that we will be a city of hope and a home to those needing hope and a home.”
Mr Rees said more than 100,000 people nationally had offered to become a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine scheme in the first 24 hours of the Government launching its website on Monday (March 14), which is where people should register here. He also asked residents who want to become sponsors and people or organisations that can help in other ways to email the council at bristolrefugeeteam@bristol.gov.uk
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