Skip to content
Text size:
Home

18th January 2024

A Big Lincolnshire Welcome Logo

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. 

HOMES FOR UKRAINE GUIDANCE

The UK Government publish guidance on the Homes For Ukraine scheme - this guidance is split across three areas: guidance for guests, guidance for sponsors and guidance for councils.

It is worth reading through all three sections of the guidance as they don't all mirror each other - if you're a sponsor you might still find something useful in the guest or council guidance. The published guidance steers how we operate the Homes For Ukraine scheme in Lincolnshire.

The guidance can be found following these links:

Guidance for guests (also available in Ukrainian and Russian)
Guidance for sponsors
Guidance for councils

HOSTING

Thank you payment extension

Following the Autumn Statement, the UK Government have announced that thank you payments will be extended at £500 for a third year following a guest's arrival. This means that we can pay thankyou payments for all three years of a guest's permissions to be in the UK if a guest is with a host for that time.

If you have any questions about thankyou payments please contact homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk

 

Online host training

Reset UK are running some online training sessions for hosts during February covering topics such as trauma, supporting children and preparing for the end of hosting arrangements.

Further information on these courses can be found on - Upcoming Events

HEALTH

Mental Health Matters

Mental Health Matters (MHM) is a national charity providing a wide range of support to people with mental health needs. With over 35 years experience in delivering high-quality mental health services. MHM provide services across England, led by highly motivated and enthusiastic workforce who are committed to delivering the best quality services to those in need of support. 

You can find out more about the range of mental health service available across Lincolnshire on our Connect To Support website

 

Lincolnshire Recovery College

The Lincolnshire Recovery College offer free educational courses about mental health, recovery and wellbeing. Courses are open to anyone aged 16+ who lives, works or studies in Lincolnshire. 

Most sessions are held via Microsoft Teams however face to face sessions are gradually being reintroduced across the county. Keep an eye on the timetable to find out where and when these sessions will take place. (the timetable can be translated using the Accessibility Tools at the bottom of the screen).

 

Help for parents to buy food and milk

The Healthy Start scheme allows eligible parents who are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 to apply for a Healthy Start card.

You can use the card to buy plain liquid cow's milk, fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried and tinned pulses, infant formula milk based on cow's milk. The card can also be used to collect Healthy Start vitamins, and vitamin drops for babies and young children. 

HOUSING

Private renting advice


We know that many Homes For Ukraine guests have moved into privately rented property, or are looking to move into privately rented property.

The UK Government provide a helpful website covering privately rented properties - this includes advice on topics such as responsibility for repairs, rent increases, anti-social behaviour. There is also advice on how to escalate repairs issues to your local council if the landlord is not maintaining the property to a suitable standard.

LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT

Get involved in volunteering

Volunteering is the act of dedicating skills and time to assist others, without expecting any financial compensation. It's a rewarding experience where you can have a positive impact on those you are helping. 

There is a new platform to support volunteering across Lincolnshire!  Have you volunteered before?  Have you thought about it but not taken it any further?  Not sure if it is for you?  Sign up now and have a look!

From January 2024, volunteers can see a wide range of volunteering opportunities, able to immediately browse and interact with them and feel part of something bigger’, with a Lincolnshire wide identity.  Volunteering has many benefits for people, such as making a positive difference, improving self-esteem, self-worth, confidence and wellbeing, an opportunity to meet new people, reducing social isolation and loneliness as well as a sense of purpose.

Volunteering opportunities are so diverse, from a mystery shopping to a gardening volunteer to spotting a walrus – there may be something for you! 

Those who can’t or don’t want to use digital can be supported by Volunteer Centres.  To find out more visit Lincolnshire Volunteers 

 

Free courses in teaching English

Free courses are now available for Homes For Ukraine guests living in Lincolnshire to train to teach English, please see the linked YouTube video to hear some peoples stories Teach English as a Second or Other Language (TESOL)

This is a good opportunity to gain a recognised qualification, particularly if you wish to pursue a career in teaching English as a foreign language, or if you'd like to volunteer some of your time helping others to learn to speak English.

There are currently 3 free courses to choose from that are run by a company called Flying Cows Learning - if you are interested in finding out more or applying click the "Apply Now!" button and Flying Cows will contact you to discuss a course and check your availability.

 

Online English lessons and employment skills

The UK Government is funding the STEP Ukraine programme - this is a free 12-week online English and employment skills course run by World Jewish Relief. The course is designed specifically to help Ukrainian guests with English language skills and also to provide training to help find meaningful employment in the UK - for example training in CV writing and interview skills.

The course runs for 2.5 hours per day Monday-Friday for 12 weeks and you can choose to attend in the morning, the afternoon or the evening. Morning and afternoon sessions will be timed so that parents can still take children to and from school.

If you are interested in attending this course please register via the website - the registration form is available in Ukrainian as well as English.

FINANCES

£2 bus fare extended for whole of 2024

From now, it’s £2 for every single-journey fare in Lincolnshire with the bus companies listed below - they are all taking part in the fare cap scheme for the next 12 months:

Further information can be found on lincsbus.info

 

£299 Cost of Living payments in February

Around 8 million eligible households across the UK are set to receive a £299 Cost of Living Payment in February, - the payments will be made to eligible households between 6th February and 22nd February. Find out more on the gov.uk website.

 

Help with the cost of living


The Money Helper website has lots of free and impartial help with money.

If you're wondering how to cover costs, the best thing you can do is take action. This website contains tools, calculators and guides that can help you take control of your money.

 

Cost of Living guide

The Connect to Support website has a Handy Money Saving guide to help you maintain wellbeing and tips to make your money stretch a bit further. 

 

Grants for older people

Friends of the Elderly grants programme issues small grants of up to £400 (£500 for couples) - these are available to support vulnerable older people living on low incomes in England and Wales. These grants can be used to cover essential expenses such as purchasing a new fridge, paying unexpected bills, food, clothing, or covering gas and electricity costs.

There are certain eligibility criteria you need to meet to qualify for a grant - these grants are not available to everyone. To access a Friends of the Elderly grant you also need to be referred by another approved organisation - you cannot apply directly yourself.

The Wellbeing Lincs team are an approved organisation for referrals to Friends of the Elderly so if you think you may be eligible for one of these grants please contact the Wellbeing Lincs team in the first instance on ukraine.wellbeing@e-lindsey.gov.uk or 01507 613044.

EVENTS

2024 GoGro Cookery Sessions

GoGro CIC are running a series of Ukrainian Cookery And Friendship classes around Lincolnshire. These fun sessions are an opportunity to learn and share about different types of cookery, both Ukrainian and British. 

The sessions are free to attend and are being run at various different locations around Lincolnshire. Please look at the GoGro website to find out details of times and locations. It would be appreciated if you could notify the location where the class is happening if you are planning to attend.

 

Adult Social Care Careers Event

International Recruitment are hosting a free Adult Social Care careers event on Tuesday 23 January at The Drill, Lincoln. This event will explain opportunities for a career in social care. If you would like to find out more about the event, please find more information here International Recruitment Leaflet.

 

A Commemoration Service

Stamford Diversity Group will be hosting a short service to solemnly commemorate the invasion of Ukraine with readings, music, and prayers at 5pm on Saturday 24 February at Browne's Hospital, Stamford, PE9 1PF. Find out more information 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

 

Important Links / Важливі посилання / Важные ссылки

 

Contact us

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

Feedback Form Sign up