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8th December 2022

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?

If there are any specific topics you want us to cover or if there's anything you’re unclear on, let us know by emailing your feedback and content suggestions to: homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk

New funding reinvigorates Lincolnshire Community Foundation Ukraine appeals 

The Lincolnshire Community Foundation is pleased to announce the re-launch of the ‘Big Lincolnshire Welcome Fund’, alongside the introduction of the new ‘Ukrainian Refugee Integration Fund’.

This is thanks to a £150,000 funding boost from the Central Government’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme via Lincolnshire County Council. 

'Big Lincolnshire Welcome Fund' re-launches

Funding is available to give a displaced person from Ukraine the opportunity to choose for themselves what item(s) up to the value of £150 for an individual or £300 for a family unit, they need to make their lives better here in Lincolnshire.

More than 50 Ukrainian guests accessed the fund earlier in the year and this new funding will allow even more people to benefit. 

For full guidance and details of how to apply, please visit the Lincolnshire Community Foundation website. Please note that new applications will not be reviewed until January 2023.

'Ukrainian Refugee Integration Fund' opens for community group applications  

Grants of up to £10,000 will be available to any new, emerging, or existing community groups and not for profit organisations in Lincolnshire to strengthen their ability to support Ukrainian refugees and help them better integrate into local communities.

Project funding will be awarded to those requests which help reduce isolation, vulnerability and promote cohesion; meaningful activities which have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing; support around employment and learning, including English language lessons.

Find out more on the Lincolnshire Community Foundation website and please help us to spread the word to community groups in your local area. The closing date for receipt of completed bids for the first round of funding is 31 January 2023.

Celebrating Christmas – a cultural guide for hosts

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain has put together a really helpful cultural Christmas guide for hosts. The guide covers Ukrainian Christmas and New Year greetings, dates (as many Ukrainians will be celebrating Christmas Day on 7 January!), food, and other festive traditions. 

Any Ukrainian guests wanting to learn about our traditions in the UK, can take a look at this Countryfile article to find out more. 

British Red Cross Support for Ukrainian families 

The British Red Cross offers a range of support for Ukrainian guests in Lincolnshire: 

Mobile SIM card:

  • Free Vodafone mobile SIM cards with six months' unlimited UK calls and texts and 20GB per month

£50 initial payment within 14 days of arrival in the UK:

  • Person calls Red Cross national support line (0808 196 3651) within 14 days of arrival in the UK
  • Red Cross sends text message to a UK mobile number with a link to an application form
  • Person completes application form and uploads photo of passport
  • When application is approved, Red Cross sends a text message with a PIN
  • Person uses PIN to withdraw money from a cash point outlet
  • The funds can only be withdrawn from cash point outlets, not bank ATMs. Outlets can be found at shops, bus stations, etc

Assistance whilst waiting for Universal Credit payment:

  • For people who have applied for and are wating to receive Universal Credit, the local Red Cross team is happy to provide financial support of £20 per person per week until Universal Credit comes through. For example, a parent with three children would receive £20 x 4 people = £80 per week from the Red Cross. This would be provided through Cash card (prepaid card) and is posted to the person's address within 5 to 7 working days of the initial contact/request.

Family Reunion Travel Assistance (FRTA):

  • The British Red Cross has set up a temporary travel assistance programme for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine who have valid visas to come to the UK but cannot afford the cost of travel or make suitable arrangements due to specific vulnerabilities. The scope of the Ukraine Travel Assistance service is to arrange and fund travel for affected people through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) or a private travel agency. They can fund travel from main UK airports to place of residence for affected family members (e.g., Taxis). The scheme will fund travel to the UK only and cannot refund tickets that are bought privately or give cash to buy tickets.

Scope of the FRTA project

  • Arrange and fund travel for affected people through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) or a private travel agency
  • Fund travel from main UK airports to place of residence for affected family members (e.g., Taxis)
  • The scheme will fund travel to the UK only and cannot refund tickets that are bought privately or give cash to buy tickets

Eligibility Criteria for the FRTA

the service is for people who:

  • Are able to reach an international airport in Poland, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia or Turkey
  • Already have UK visas or a right to enter the UK
  • Have a relative or a sponsor in the UK who is able to provide them with support and accommodation on arrival
  • Count three or more family members in need of travel (although exceptions will be made for those in need of enhanced support with flying due to old age, a serious medical condition or unaccompanied children)

Please contact the local team by ringing 0116 479 0900 Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm (interpreters can be arranged if required) or email: RSEastMidlandsUkraine@redcross.org.uk

The O2 Christmas sim card

O2 is giving away one million gigabytes of free data to support those in need this Christmas.

Find out more on the Christmas sim card leaflet or to order one for someone who may need it please visit the O2 website. 

GP registration reminder 

One thing that hosts can do initially to help their guests is ensure they are registered with a GP. All Ukrainian guests can be fully registered with GP surgeries so they can freely access healthcare in the same way that Lincolnshire residents can.

Leaflets detailing ‘How the NHS works’ are available to download in English, Ukrainian and Russian. 

Guests moving either within or outside Lincolnshire should contact their existing GP for advice about moving surgery.

Qualification conversion 

If you are a Ukrainian guest who is claiming Universal Credit then the Job Centre may be able to help you convert Ukrainian qualifications into the equivalent qualifications in the UK.

If you have any professional qualifications then converting them to their UK equivalents may help you to find employment in your preferred sector of work.

The best way to raise this with the Job Centre is either face to face with your Work Coach or by making a request via your online journal – this will ensure that the request to convert your qualifications is properly logged.

The Job Centre can then support you to work with an organisation called Ecctis to recognise and evaluate your qualifications and skills.

Please note that this qualification conversion service is only available to people who are claiming Universal Credit.

Free school meals

The UK government provide free meals at school for children where the family income is below £7,400 a year, or if you receive certain benefits. As well as receiving their free meal at school, these children are also given free spaces at holiday clubs around the county who will provide sports activities, a free meal and fun activities learning about food and drink.

Your child may already be receiving free school meals as we have provided funding to schools for Homes for Ukraine children for one year, however it is still important that you apply online using your National Insurance number to check eligibility to then access the other activities described. 

Christmas Holiday Activities and Food programme for school age children

Bookings are still open for the Christmas/Winter Holiday Activities and Food programme, taking place from 19 December 2022 to 3 January 2023 (excluding bank holidays and weekends), with spaces still available at most of the clubs. 

The Holiday Activities and Food programme is a government funded programme that provides all children aged 5 to 16 years in receipt of benefits related free school meals in Lincolnshire, including all children on the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme, access to free healthy meals and activities over the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays.

More information about the programme, along with details of how to book is available on the ‘Connect to Support’ website. 

Guest employment survey 

We will shortly be emailing an employment survey to all Ukrainian guests of working age residing in Lincolnshire. This will help us to understand how many people have been able to find jobs, and gain insight into the barriers faced by those who haven’t. This will enable us to provide more targeted advice, guidance and signposting to help people find work.

Please help us by completing the survey, as the more information we receive, the more useful it will be to us in trying to support people into employment.

Searching for a job?

If you're looking for a job, we've put together a list of helpful sites across the county: 

Jobs in Lincolnshire
Local government vacancies 
Lincolnshire Police vacancies 
Health & Wellbeing vacancies
What's on in Lincolnshire this Christmas 

If you're looking for festive activities and events, take a look at Visit Lincolnshire's guide to what's on in Lincoln and around Lincolnshire this year. 

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).

Important Links
'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. 

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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