2nd March 2023

A Big Lincolnshire Welcome Logo

Host & Guest e-newsletter

Welcome to the latest issue of our host and guest e-newsletter. If you can, why not sit down together to read it?

Ukraine: One Year of War - a special programme on ITV Calendar

Following the first anniversary of the Russian invasion last week, we know that many of our guests and hosts were interviewed by local news outlets. Thank you to everyone who gave their time to talk to the media - it was incredibly moving to hear so many Ukrainian voices speak about their experiences of moving to Lincolnshire.

A special edition of ITV Calendar was also broadcast live from St Mary le Wigford Church in Lincoln on Thursday 23 February 2023. The programme is available to watch on the Calendar website.

Email correspondence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

Yesterday, Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities wrote to guests and hosts on the Homes for Ukraine scheme via email.

Copies of the emails are available to read in English, Ukrainian and Russian on the gov.uk website.

In-person support from Citizens Advice - new Skegness date added

Citizens Advice can provide support with a wide range of topics including benefits, debt and money, employment, consumer, housing, family, immigration and more.

They are pleased to be offering in-person support for hosts and guests in Lincolnshire at the following community groups and we are pleased to add Skegness to the list of locations:

Boston
Friday mornings: 10am-12pm
Centenary Methodist Church, Red Lion St, Boston PE21 6NY
Grantham
Tuesday mornings: 9.30am-1pm
Jubilee Church Life Centre, 5 London Road, Grantham NG31 6EY
Louth (with additional support from 'Wellbeing Lincs')
Thursday afternoons: 12-1pm
Louth Library, Northgate, Louth LN11 0LY
Skegness (with additional support from 'Wellbeing Lincs')
Monday afternoons (from 13 March): 12.30-2pm
Skegness Town Council (Small Hall), Tower Gardens Pavilion, Rutland Road, Skegness PE25 2AX
Stamford
Thursday mornings: 10:30am-12pm
Stamford Diversity Group, Conversation Café, Barnhill Methodist Church, Barn Hill, Stamford PE9 2AE

Home visits are also possible for those in rural areas (by exception) with translation support available. Please contact homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk or Wellbeing Lincs at ukraine.wellbeing@e-lindsey.gov.uk for more information.

Barnardo’s - free online workshops for host families

Barnardo’s is running a five week programme of free online workshops for host families in England. Topics include:

How to keep everyone safe
Exploring ways to keep children, young people and host families safe and what to do if you have concerns.

Cultural awareness
Looking at what culture means and exploring and celebrating our different cultures.

Understanding the impact of trauma
Exploring what trauma is, how it might present and what is helpful when supporting children, young people and families.

Responding to challenges
Looking at what can be helpful when dealing with difficult situations and emotions.

Understanding people’s rights
Exploring people's rights including children's rights.

View the workshop poster to find out more about session times and visit www.bookwhen.com/barnardos-workshops to book.

Please email hostfamilyworkshops@barnardos.org.uk if you have any queries.

Employability & Support Morning, Stamford
10.00am-12.30pm, Tuesday 21 March 2023

Meet local employers with job vacancies and connect with organisations who are providing support in the South Kesteven area. The Department for Work and Pensions will also be offering advice on benefit entitlement.

Parents returning to Ukraine and leaving children in the UK

There have been a small number of instances where parents have temporarily returned to Ukraine, leaving their children behind to be cared for by people who don’t have parental responsibility for them (for example, aunties or godmothers or even hosts themselves).

In situations where parents must return to Ukraine, and leaving children behind is unavoidable, please inform us at homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk. We need to know about these situations in advance, so we can ensure the appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place for the children concerned.

Funding available for guests

Host Ukrainian Refugees Lincolnshire Network (HURLNET) has funding available to assist Ukrainian guests who have recently moved into rental accommodation with items for their new homes. They are currently giving out bursaries of £200 per refugee family. Please email Jonny Hoare at hurlnet@icloud.com for more information.

Sleaford Rotary Club is also supporting families from Ukraine that have re-settled in the Sleaford area. They are working with HURLNET to find those that need help, offering a £250 bursary. If you are aware of a family from Ukraine who has re-settled in the Sleaford area and needs financial support, please contact Alan Thomas at alanthomas1953@gmail.com.

The Caistor Calendar Fund

A Caistor photographer has kindly donated the proceeds of her calendar to support Ukrainian refugees residing within seven miles of Caistor.

Items up to the value of £150 (per household) can be applied for which will help refugees settle and integrate into the area.

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2023 where applications will be reviewed (please note this is not a rolling programme).

If you would like further information or to make an application, please visit the Lincolnshire Community Foundation website.

News from the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Lincoln

The Ukrainian Cultural Centre reopened on 1 March and will now also be open every first Sunday of the month. The schedule for March is as follows:

Sunday 5 March 2023

- Open house from 11am to 3pm at St Mary le Wigford Church (St Mary's St, Lincoln LN5 7AR).

Saturday 11 March 2023

- Worship service at 3pm at St Hugh's Church (Broadgate, Lincoln, LN2 5AQ).

- For the first time ever a family disco party will take place from 6pm to 10pm at the Salthouse (Free School Lane, Lincoln, LN2 1EY). Tickets will be available this Sunday at the Cultural Centre or by contacting the team directly.

Find out more on the Ukrainian Cultural Centre Facebook page.

Vyshyvanka Hub, Gainsborough

Vyshyvanka Hub in Gainsborough is a self-help support group for local people wanting to sponsor Ukrainian refugees, for Ukrainians now arriving in the town, their sponsors/hosts and anyone who is unable to sponsor or host but wants to help in other practical ways.

The Hub has regular meet ups in a Gainsborough coffee shop, giving guests a chance to meet with others, swap information and contact details and network.

Find out more by joining the Vyshyvanka Hub Facebook page.

Your events

Please send any events for this newsletter to: homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk

New or existing events, activities and any other support services open to Ukrainian guests can also be added to the 'Connect to Support' directory by completing the sign-up form (add ‘Ukraine Support’ to the title of your listings).

'Wellbeing Lincs'

'Wellbeing Lincs' offers emotional and practical support, help with accessing health, education, benefits and council services, including 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 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.

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