How To Find a Ukrainian Refugee

[TorqueVR]

Me and Mrs Torque have been talking about this for a number of days and we want to provide a safe temporary home to a family from Ukraine. Our sons have left home, we've 2 spare bedrooms, a spare bathroom and shower room, we have plenty of space and live in a quiet village fairly close to Bristol and the desire to help.

From what I've read this morning we have to fill in forms with our details and the names of the refugees we want to sponsor, so we we have to find our own Ukrainian. We assumed the government would have some sort of list but it seems the onus is on us to find some one. Where do we start? We honestly have no idea. Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

[ColourRestorer]

We’re in similar position to you, and conscious of village location and the fact that refugees are going to feel isolated, we’re trying to get our Parish Council to act as a focal point so that in the Village as a whole we get a group of refugees. That way they can socialise, get together in Village Hall etc.

It looks as though my wife will end up being the coordinator, because despite not being on Parish Council, it was her idea.

We’re just waiting for the Government website to go live so that we can understand the next steps.

Happy to talk off line if you wish...

[Camoradi]

Government scheme web page here

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-sponsorship-sche...

There are a number of charities linking people up. This one came to my notice

https://www.sanctuaryfoundation.org.uk/

[TorqueVR]

Thanks, that's a good start

[king arthur]

I have contacts in Dnipro which is the city on the Dnieper river about 120 miles south west of Kharkiv. Trains from there are taking people to Poland as I understand it. I will ask if they know of people who want to come to the UK, as I and members of my family are willing to take people.

[ColourRestorer]

Camoradi said:

There are a number of charities linking people up. This one came to my notice

https://www.sanctuaryfoundation.org.uk/

Sorry to sound cynical, but may I strike a note of caution: I'm slightly concerned about The Sanctuary Foundation as it does not appear to be a registered charity in the UK or anywhere else. Nor does its website meet the legal standard for a charity.

[drmike37]

If priti patel has got anything to do with the scheme it’ll be computer says no.

[bigandclever]

ColourRestorer said:

Sorry to sound cynical, but may I strike a note of caution: I'm slightly concerned about The Sanctuary Foundation as it does not appear to be a registered charity in the UK or anywhere else. Nor does its website meet the legal standard for a charity.

They don't say they're a charity.

[ColourRestorer]

bigandclever said:

They don't say they're a charity.

Indeed, but Camoradi did in their post above.
I would also argue that their website strongly implies that they behave as a charity.

Edited by ColourRestorer on Monday 14th March 14:30

[Camoradi]

ColourRestorer said:

bigandclever said:

They don't say they're a charity.

Indeed, but Camoradi did in their post above.

For which I stand corrected. Organisation would have been more appropriate

[clio007]

Not sure on Ukrainian refugees but there are a few charities that do it for African and Syrian refugees.

Still interested? Or it’s Ukrainian only?

[ColourRestorer]

clio007 said:

Not sure on Ukrainian refugees but there are a few charities that do it for African and Syrian refugees.

Still interested? Or it’s Ukrainian only?

Did you read the thread title?

[ColourRestorer]

Information is starting to dribble out from HM Government here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-sche...
You can now register your interest here: https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/

Edited by ColourRestorer on Monday 14th March 16:26

[ColourRestorer]

Cupramax said:

Yes, there needs to be a clear way out for both sides if they don’t get on, this was what puts me off more than anything. What are the legalities of opening up your house to an unknown quantity.

Do you think that these poor people really want to be here?

This thread was supposed to be about people trying to help, not a magnet for the Internet Research Agency's apprentices to practice on.

[HTP99]

drmike37 said:

If priti patel has got anything to do with the scheme it’ll be computer says no.

A few days ago on the radio (LBC possibly) the presenter (would have been Nick Ferrari) was talking to an expert in this kind of field, she gave the impression that the whole scheme would be unworkable given that bureaucracy is so slow in the UK, there is so much red tape plus all the DBS and background checks required on the hosts, she gave the impression that it was more lip service than anything else.

[austinsmirk]

As someone who manages social housing for a living: the approach is wrong.

Certainly where I work and no doubt other parts of the country could find 100’s of voids to handover completely families could have their own full home.

We’ve just demolished a number of 14 storey high tower blocks that could have housed 500 families. And no, no defects or cladding issues, simply no demand.

Personally I’m going to float the idea at work and see if it has legs. I reckon we could turn some areas around if we didn’t have the English in them.

My idea of course won’t work in London as for some reason people do want to live in horrible stabby blocks of flats.

[Ivan stewart]

Could we send the economic migrants to fight in the Ukrainian war it would then free up hotel accommodation for refugees ??

[Ian Geary]

ColourRestorer said:

Why has this thread become a magnet for morons?

Why is it so wrong for people to engage with each other when trying to figure out a positive course of action to help?

For the hard of thinking, do I really need to draw you a picture to explain the difference between migrants and refugees? Well here's a clue: it's not about skin colour.

My town's Facebook page has spent the last year decrying all the local asylum seekers currently housed in empty airport hotels. Locals are quick to point out they aren't from "around here", and accused them from crimes ranging from child snatching to operating roving rape gangs (as well as more serious stuff like hanging around outside Tesco's, or staring) Their solution is they should be locked in the hotels 24/7, or deported.

And how have my Surrey brethren determined that these people aren't in fact fleeing war and hostility that is every bit as bad as Ukraine's?

Here's a clue: their skin colour.

Yes, some from the hotter parts of the world (ok Afgan can be quite nippy)will be economic migrants, whereas I expect Ukrainans coming to the UK now will virtually all be seeking temporary asylum. But this sudden rush by Brits to throw open their houses does raise an eyebrow. To pretend it's not obvious would be disingenuous.

(Admit this has nothing to do with the opening questions, but seeing as it was raised, it's a discussion worthy point imo)

[Ivan stewart]

Ian Geary said:

My town's Facebook page has spent the last year decrying all the local asylum seekers currently housed in empty airport hotels. Locals are quick to point out they aren't from "around here", and accused them from crimes ranging from child snatching to operating roving rape gangs (as well as more serious stuff like hanging around outside Tesco's, or staring) Their solution is they should be locked in the hotels 24/7, or deported.

And how have my Surrey brethren determined that these people aren't in fact fleeing war and hostility that is every bit as bad as Ukraine's?

Here's a clue: their skin colour.

Yes, some from the hotter parts of the world (ok Afgan can be quite nippy)will be economic migrants, whereas I expect Ukrainans coming to the UK now will virtually all be seeking temporary asylum. But this sudden rush by Brits to throw open their houses does raise an eyebrow. To pretend it's not obvious would be disingenuous.

(Admit this has nothing to do with the opening questions, but seeing as it was raised, it's a discussion worthy point imo)

Bull st !! Sorry I and most people don’t give a flying ****anymore about skin colour ,
What we do get upset about is piss taking economic migrants being indulged , and the stupid gullible lefty hand wringers that complain if anyone questions things that are blindingly obvious to anyone normal.

[DP14]

Some neighbours of mine have successfully found themselves a Ukrainian refugee through the website seeking.com