18th April 2024

Homes For Ukraine Lincolnshire e-newsletter

Welcome to the latest issue of our e-newsletter for Homes For Ukraine guests and hosts. This newsletter is sent out by Lincolnshire County Council's Homes For Ukraine team. You can email the team on homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Visit the 'Connect to Support' website to read this newsletter in Ukrainian or Russian.

Відвідайте веб-сайт "Зверніться до служби підтримки", щоб прочитати цей інформаційний бюлетень українською або російською мовами.

Посетите сайт "Связь с поддержкой", чтобы прочитать этот бюллетень на украинском или русском языках.

LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT

Learning to Speak English (ESOL)

We understand how important learning to speak English is to help with finding a job, attending school and fitting in to your community.

There are lots of opportunities in Lincolnshire to learn and improve your English. English language courses are sometimes referred to as ESOL – English for Speakers of Other Languages.

If you would like to find out more information about this please click here.

College Open Days

Boston College open event - Thursday 25th April 2024 5pm - 7pm. Skirbeck Road, Boston, PE21 6JF. Please register your interest here.
Newark College open event - Thursday 25th April 2024 4pm - 7pm. Newark College Campus, Friary Road, Newark, NG24 1PB. Please register your interest here.
Grantham College open event - Thursday 25th April 2024 5:30pm - 7pm. Stonebridge Road, Grantham, NG31 9AP. Please register your interest here.
Riseholme College open event - Saturday 20th April 2024 10am - 1pm. Showground Campus, Horncastle Lane, North Carlton, LN1 2ZR. Find out more information here.
Lincoln College campus open event - Wednesday 8th May 2024 4pm 7pm. Monks Road, Lincoln, LN2 5HQ. Please register your interest here.

Are you currently looking for work?

We understand that it can be challenging and time-consuming trying to find a job; sometimes it feels impossible because you simply do not know where to start. The UK Government have developed a website which could help. If you are interested in searching and applying for job opportunities in Great Britain, you could use the 'Find a Job' website to look for available roles.

The website uploads a range of jobs in a wide variety of sectors, and across both public and private organisations. Similarly, you are able to filter your search by salary, location, contract type and working hours, to enable you to find a job which is suitable for you. You can also create an account on the website to save jobs you are interested in, to view/apply later, and to keep track of your progress in your job hunt.

FINANCES

Universal Credit

The UK financial year will be drawing to a close as of 31st March 2024. During the transition into the new financial year from 1st April 2024, there are a number of changes that it will be important for you to prepare for. There may be some changes which will impact household bills. This may include changes to council tax, phone bills and Local Housing Allowance rates.

Contracts

We'd like to remind our guests and hosts to carefully consider all options before a host commits to a contract on behalf of a guest. This might include a gym membership or a mobile phone contract. Remember that contracts often have lengthy minimum term and if hosting arrangements changes, you may not be easily able to cancel and any non payment may negatively impact a host's credit rating.

National Living Wage Increase

From 1 April 2024 the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increased.

The National Living Wage is for employees aged 21 and over. You are now entitled to the rate of £11.44 an hour, an increase from £10.42. Younger employees aged between 16 and 20, receive the National Minimum Wage. The rates for this also increased on 1 April 2024:

If you are 16, or 17, the National Minimum Wage has increased to £6.40 per hour, up from £5.28.
If you are 18, 19 or 20, the National Minimum Wage has increased to £8.60 per hour, up from £7.49.

Apprentices are entitled to a separate apprentice rate or minimum wage depending on their age and years in apprenticeship.

You can use an online calculator to check whether you are being paid the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage: National Minimum Wage and Living Wage calculator for workers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you believe you are not getting paid the National Minimum Wage that you should be receiving, get advice or make a complaint to the HMRC: Pay and work rights helpline and complaints - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

CHILDREN

Immigration status for new-born babies

For Ukrainian babies born in the UK where parents have Homes For Ukraine visas, it is important that the baby's immigration status is 'regularised' within three months of the baby being born.

This process is important because it ensures the baby has the correct immigration status as well as ensuring access to services and benefits, including healthcare. More information on the 'regularising' process is available here on the Government website.

BIOMETRIC RESIDENT PERMITS

BRP Cards and eVisas

The UK Government are starting a project to replace Biometric Resident Permits cards (BRP cards) with electronic visas (known as eVisas).

Homes For Ukraine guests may notice that their BRP cards show as expiring on 31 December 2024 - this is because from 1 January 2025 BRP cards are being replaced with eVisas. eVisas will be the new way of proving immigration status and various rights to access public services in the UK.

eVisas are secure and cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with. You will not need to wait for or collect a physical document after your application is decided, although you may still have to provide biometric information in person. When you have an eVisa it will also be quicker and easier to prove your status at the UK border and share your status with third parties such as employers and landlords.

The UK Government are starting to email people with BRPs to invite them to apply for an eVisa. Only invited people can apply for eVisas at this stage. If you do not receive an email from the Government about this please do not worry - the eVisa process will open up more widely in the summer so that anyone can apply even without an invitation.

The UK Government have released some further information about the eVisa scheme and also have produced a short video (the video is in English but the YouTube subtitles can be switched to other languages).

We will include more information in future newsletters as it becomes available.

EVENTS

Training Events

Reset - Communities for Refugees are running a number of different online training events in the coming weeks for hosts or guests. Reset aims to connect, support and guide individuals in the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

If you would like to find out what training events they have scheduled please click here.

OTHER SUPPORT

Wellbeing Lincs support for Ukrainians in Lincolnshire

'Wellbeing Lincs' offers emotional and practical support - for example, help with advice on accessing health, education, benefits and housing - to all hosts and guests in Lincolnshire.

If you need to have a potentially difficult conversation with your host / guest, the 'Wellbeing Lincs' team may be able help you navigate this. They are trained in providing mediation and can support you in talking things through openly and honestly to reach a positive solution.

For help, email ukraine.wellbeing@e-lindsey.gov.uk with your name, address, contact information and a brief description of what you need.

The team will aim to be in touch within two working days. They can also be contacted by phone on 01507 613044 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday or 10am to 4.30pm on Fridays.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice is a charity that offers free support and advice to residents. They can help with a range of issues including claiming universal credit and other benefits. Citizens Advice can provide home visits in rural areas and can attend community groups in Lincolnshire with translation support.

In Lincolnshire there is a dedicated helpline number and email address for Homes For Ukraine guests to use if you would like to ask for help - you can call 0344 847 6128 or email ukraine@citizensadvicesouthlincs.org.uk

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact Lincolnshire County Council's Homes For Ukraine team on homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk