13th April 2023
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?
Find a job: ‘Homes for Ukraine’ guidance update
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has recently updated the ‘Find a job: Homes for Ukraine guidance’ which includes information on where to find work, signposting support and how to access skills-based training for employment. Read the revised guidance on the gov.uk website.
Regularising a child's immigration status if they are born in the UK
Last week the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published new guidance outlining how guests can regularise their child’s immigration status in the UK through the Ukraine Extension Scheme.
Read the new guidance on the gov.uk website.
Private rental accommodation in Lincolnshire
We know that the private rental sector is challenging for Ukrainian guests looking to move into their own accommodation. We want to engage private landlords specifically around renting to Ukrainian guests, so if you’re a private landlord or know one, we’d be very keen to hear from you.
So far, we're aware of over 100 Ukrainian families or individuals staying in Lincolnshire who have already successfully ‘moved on’ into private rented accommodation. If you're able to share any experiences of accessing the private rental market, please let us know at homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
In-person support from Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice and 'Wellbeing Lincs' are continuing to offer in-person support for hosts and guests in Lincolnshire at a number of community groups across the county.
If you're a host or guest with questions on benefits, debt and money, employment, consumer issues, housing, family or immigration, drop in for a chat and some advice.
Find your nearest support session by visiting the 'Connect to Support' website.
Ukrainian Community Group Survey
Have you visited any of the Ukrainian Community Groups in Lincolnshire? If so, we’re keen to hear your views. Please take five minutes to complete our short survey.
Ukrainian community organisations recognised in High Sheriff Awards
On Monday 27 March 2023, Lincolnshire High Sheriff, Tim Strawson hosted the annual High Sheriff Awards Ceremony at Charlotte House Hotel in Lincoln, recognising groups, organisations and volunteers for their efforts, time and dedication.
Lincolnshire Community Foundation nominated five organisations for their incredible support of Ukrainian refugees over the last year. Congratulations to Mandy Baxter from Boxes of Hope in Holbeach, Derran Brown from Ukraine Aid in Lincoln, Karen Marlor and Betty Berthebaud from the Jubilee Centre in Grantham, Deirdre Speed from Vyshyvanka Hub in Gainsborough and Kelly Teasdale from Sivill Service in Tattershall. Lynnette Pryke from Alford Hub was also nominated separately for her work supporting Ukrainians in the community.
Eurovision Events
Excitement is building for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, with the Grand Final set to be held in Liverpool on Saturday 13 May 2023.
Are you holding Eurovision events in your local community? If so, please let us know by emailing homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk and we’ll include a round-up in our next e-newsletter on 27 April 2023.
Time set for UK Emergency Alerts test
The new Emergency Alerts system will be tested nationally at 3pm on Sunday 23 April 2023.
The system will warn people when their lives are in danger. An Emergency Alert is a loud, siren-like sound with a message on your mobile phone screen. Emergency Alerts enable urgent messages to be broadcast to a defined area when there is an imminent risk to life, such as wildfires or severe flooding.
For the test, the public does not need to take any action - the sound and vibration will stop automatically after ten seconds. All people need to do is swipe away the message or click ‘OK’ on their phone’s home screen - just like for a ‘low battery’ warning or notification - and continue to use their phone as normal. To find out more, visit the gov.uk website.
Free school meals
The UK government provides 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.
World Health Organisation: ‘Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide’
‘Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide’ is a stress management guide for coping with adversity. The guide, from the World Health Organisation, aims to equip people with practical skills to help cope with stress. A few minutes each day are enough to practice the self-help techniques. The guide can be used alone or with the accompanying audio exercises.
Informed by evidence and extensive field testing, the guide is for anyone who experiences stress, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.
The guide is available in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
Ukrainian Easter
Ahead of this weekend, we’d like to wish our Ukrainian guests a Happy Easter. In Lincoln, the Ukrainian Cultural Centre is holding the following events:
Saturday 15 April 2023
Mass at St Hugh's Church at 12pm followed by basket blessings.
Sunday 16 April 2023
Easter picnic and Easter Egg Hunt for children at Hartsholme Country Park at 12pm.
Cooking workshops for Ukrainian teenagers in Stamford
Stamford Diversity Group is arranging some cooking workshops for Ukrainian teenagers, aged 12 plus. The first workshops are planned from 4.30-6.30pm on Thursday 20 April, Thursday 4 May and Thursday 18 May 2023 at Stamford College.
If anyone locally would like their teenager to be involved in these sessions or any others (dates and times TBC) please email stamforddiversitygroup@gmail.com with their name and age plus any dietary requirements/allergies.
Lincolnshire Recovery College: Sharing the journey together
Are you finding life challenging or supporting someone who is? Do you want to learn from people with real life experience, alongside education and health professionals? If so, the Lincolnshire Recovery College could be for you. They offer free educational courses about mental health, recovery and wellbeing. Courses are open to anyone aged 16+ who lives, works or studies in Lincolnshire.
The Drill, Lincoln
10am-12pm, Friday 21 April 2023: ‘Journaling for Wellbeing’
1-3pm, Friday 21 April 2023: ‘Creative Connections’
New Life Centre, Spilsby
10am-12pm, Wednesday 17 May 2023: ‘Let’s Talk About it – Anxiety’
10am-12pm, Wednesday 24 May 2023: ‘Growing our self-esteem’
View the full timetable on the Lincolnshire Recovery College website - please note that more courses are available online via MS Teams.
Sign up today at www.lpft.nhs.uk/recovery-college or contact lpft.recovery.college@nhs.net / 01522 309333 for more information.
Lincolnshire Careers Fair, supported by CareinLincs Careers
10am to 3pm, Thursday 11 May 2023
Are you looking for a new career? Thinking about volunteering? Or looking for a placement to support your studies?
- Speak directly to employers from across the county
- Discover a variety of opportunities that are available right on your doorstep
- Get expert advice on careers guidance, and the financial support that's available
- Looking to develop your skills and knowledge? Local education providers will be on-hand to discuss available courses
Free refreshments will be served throughout the day, plus soup and a roll will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Confirm your attendance by registering on Eventbrite.
Address details: The Drill, Free School Lane, Lincoln LN2 1EY
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).
Reminder - has your hosting arrangement come to an end?
If your guest has moved out of your accommodation, it’s really important that you let us know as soon as possible. This is so we can update our records and stop your host ‘thank you’ payments at the right time. If this applies to you, please contact us by emailing homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
If you don't let us know about these important changes and continue to claim the host ‘thank you’ payments when you're no longer hosting a guest, councils will look to recover these payments by applying their usual debt collection practices.
Connect to Support Lincolnshire
Connect to Support is an online information and advice library, community directory and provider marketplace for people in Lincolnshire.
The Advice for Ukrainian Arrivals information pages are regularly updated and aim to guide Ukrainian guests to local services during their stay in Lincolnshire.
The in-built Google Translate function means that the information can easily be translated into both Ukrainian and Russian. You can also view past editions of this e-newsletter on the site.