20th June 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.
THANK YOU PAYMENTS
Thank you payments in City Of Lincoln and West Lindsey
In accordance with national guidance you may be receiving a monthly thank you payment for hosting a Homes For Ukraine guest.
We are making some changes to how thank you payments are sent.
Until now, payments have been sent out by District Councils. We have decided that Lincolnshire County Council will take over making these payments. This will simplify the application process, help us resolve queries faster and provide a single organisation that hosts need to talk to.
We are working our way across the county, switching hosts from being paid by their District Council to being paid by Lincolnshire County Council.
The next group of hosts we will switch across are hosts in City Of Lincoln Council and hosts in West Lindsey District Council.
If you are a host in Lincoln or West Lindsey you will shortly receive an email from homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk with further information about the changes, including an online form for you to complete with some details about you as a host including which bank account you would like your payments made into. We would appreciate it if Lincoln and West Lindsey hosts could look out for this email - we want to ensure that hosts are set up on our financial systems promptly so that nobody misses out on any payments.
This change does not affect how much you are eligible to receive, it is just a behind-the-scenes administrative change of where the payments come from.
We would also like to note that hosts are able to apply for thank you payments at any point during their hosting and - subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for being a host - may be entitled to back-dated payments.
Guests travelling abroad
If guests are away from their hosts for more than 28 days the UK Government instructs us to pause thank you payments until the guest returns.
We are seeing high levels of guest travel from and back to the UK. Please can we remind hosts and guests to let us know when a guest has left your accommodation - even if the guest is intending to return within less than 28 days - so that we can update our records. The situation in Ukraine remains difficult and guest travel plans are understandably fluid so even if a guest is not intending to be away for long, plans can change. So it is helpful for us to be informed when guests come and go so that we can administer thank you payments correctly.
We do not receive this information from Border Force so we are to an extent reliant on hosts and guests informing us when they are leaving/returning to the UK. Thank you for your understanding with this.
Other rules around thank you payments
There are various rules we need to comply with around thank you payments, for example, what happens if your guest leaves your accommodation part way through the month? If you would like to find out more about this please head to our Homes For Ukraine Lincolnshire website, which explains the rules in more detail.
VISAS
eVisas
Most Homes For Ukraine guests will have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). The BRP is a useful way of proving the right to work, the right to rent, the right to have access to public funds.
Most Homes For Ukraine guests will have a BRP with an expiry date of 31 December 2024. This is because the UK Government are replacing BRPs with online electronic "eVisas" from January 2025.
So from January 2025 people will have an online way of proving their immigration status, the right to work, to rent and so on. From January 2025 people will no longer be able to use the physical BRP cards.
Please note that the BRP expiry date of 31 December 2024 is the date that the BRP expires, it is NOT when the guest's Homes For Ukraine visa expires.
The BRP is just a way of proving your current immigration status and its associated rights - from January 2025 onwards this will be proved with an online eVisa instead.
The UK Government have produced a short video summarising eVisas (the video is in English but the YouTube subtitles can be switched to other languages).
At the moment you can only apply for an eVisa if you have received an invitation email from the UK Government - a few people are being invited to try the service out to test it. Over summer 2024 the UK Government will open up the process to allow anyone to apply for their eVisa. This will be an online process involving guests creating a UK Visas and Immigration account. We will provide further information as and when we receive it from central government.
Homes For Ukraine guests do not need to do anything yet and should not worry if they have not received an email from the UK Government inviting them to apply for an eVisa. All guests will be able to start applying for eVisas over the summer when the process is opened up to everyone. However we know that guests and hosts already have questions about this process and we just wanted to share everything we know at this stage.
Please also note that switching to an eVisa is about changing how you demonstrate your current right to be in the UK. There will be an entirely separate process for Homes For Ukraine guests to apply to extend the length of time they can stay in the UK. This extension scheme is still being worked on by the UK Government, we will provide further details as soon as we have them.
How to find out when your Homes for Ukraine visa expires
We know that many guests are concerned about when their current Homes For Ukraine visas expire, and the date that the visas run out is not always obvious. There is the additional confusion that Biometric Residence Permits expire on 31 December 2024 but this is not the date that the visa expires.
Guests may have been told the date their Homes For Ukraine visa expires in the correspondence they received from the UK Government when the visa was granted. Alternatively guests may have had their visa expiry date confirmed when they entered the UK. Or guests may simply never have been told the date their visa expires.
If you are a guest who is unsure of when your Homes For Ukraine visa expires the easiest way that we have found to confirm the dates is to use the government share code website that proves your right to work in the UK (you will need your BRP to do this):
Prove your right to work to an employer: Get a share code online - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Click on the green "Start now" button and select the "I have a biometric residence card or permit". Say "Yes" that you do have a biometric residence permit. Then input your BRP number and your date of birth.
You will then be shown a screen showing a date range when you are allowed to work in the UK. This date range corresponds to your Homes For Ukraine visa date range - so the last date is the date your Homes For Ukraine visa expires.
The UK Government are working on an extension scheme to allow Homes For Ukraine guests to extend their leave to remain in the UK by another 18 months. The details of this have not been confirmed yet but we will share them as soon as they are available.
Standard Visitor Visa
Homes For Ukraine visas are intended to help Ukrainians seek a long-term place of refuge from the war in Ukraine. They are not the appropriate visa type for family and friends to come to the UK for a short visit.
For Ukrainians wanting to come to the UK to visit family and friends there is another visa that should be used. This is called a Standard Visitor Visa.
Standard Visitor visas allow people to come to the UK for up to 6 months and do not allow the visitor to work, rent or claim public funds. Standard Visitor visas currently cost £115 and the earliest they can be applied for is 3 months before travelling.
HFU guests changing to another visa
There have been some occasions when guests on Homes For Ukraine visas have switched to another visa type - for example changing to a skilled worker visa, a student visa or a family visa. It is rare that a Homes For Ukraine guest will switch to another visa type but it does happen. Please can guests or hosts let the Homes For Ukraine team know when they switch to another visa because it may have an impact on things like thank you payments.
If you change visa you can let us know by emailing homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk
HEALTH
Mental Health support for children
Healthy Minds Lincolnshire provide emotional wellbeing support for children and young people up to 19 years old. If you have special educational needs, disability, or are a care leaver you can access the service up to the age of 25.
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 a 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 Homes For Ukraine Lincolnshire website.
Shine Lincolnshire
Shine Lincolnshire are a Lincolnshire charity who offer mental health services to adults.
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).
Night Light Cafe for Mental Health support
The Night Light Service is an NHS commissioned project which hosts 'cafes' in different churches across Lincoln every day of the week. The cafés are hosted by teams of trained volunteers who provide a warm welcome in a peaceful environment created to calm those who attend.
This is designed to be a non-clinical out of hours mental health support service for people who are finding life difficult. The volunteers offer a listening ear and provide signposting advice to guests.
To access this service, or to refer someone for support from Night Light, please call 0300 011 1200 or email nightlight@actstrust.org.uk.
Barnardo's Ukrainian Support Helpline
The Barnardo's Support Helpline is a free helpline staffed by English, Ukrainian and Russian speakers, to offer support to children and young people up to the age of 25 and their families. The helpline is open Monday - Friday 10:00am - 8:00pm on: 0800 148 8586 or email at ukrainiansupport@barnardos.org.uk
The Barnardo's Therapeutic Health Service is for children and young people aged 21 and under. The therapy service aids to listen to you and explore your feelings in a safe space without fear of judgement. You will be offered 8 sessions of therapy with a therapist, each session will last 45 minutes, and will take place virtually (via phone or video call).
FINANCES
Universal Credit and guests travelling abroad
Guests are responsible for informing the Job Centre of any changes in their circumstances, including travelling abroad. Any guests who are planning on being out of the country need to tell the Job Centre before leaving the UK.
Telling the Job Centre in advance will allow them to manage cases correctly - for example, by rescheduling any meetings that are due to occur while the guest is abroad reducing the risk of claim closure for non-attendance at appointments. So it is important that guests tell the Job Centre before going abroad and when they come back.
Guests should also keep their hosts updated with any travel arrangement plans.
Lincolnshire Community Foundation (LCF) Household Support Fund
LCF is offering funding to households facing financial hardship in South and East Lincolnshire. Eligible residents can apply for up to £300 in supermarket vouchers, which can be used to purchase food, school uniforms, cleaning products, and other essential items. To find out more please click here.
If you need assistance please contact the Household Support Fund team at 01529 305825 or email at hsf@lincolnshirecf.co.uk.
Please note that funding is open to all residents in need, but priority will be given to households in new or temporary financial hardship due to change in circumstance.
LEARNING AND CAREERS
National Career Advice
National Career Advice provide free tailored information, advice and guidance to help individuals to make decisions on learning, training and work. To speak to a career adviser in your area:
Contact: 0800 100 900 or us National Career Advice's online chat.
How to write a CV
The Open University have written a detailed article with helpful information on how to write a CV, this has been written in Ukrainian.
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Holiday Activities and Food Programme
The Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) is a Government funded programme that provides free holiday clubs for children aged 5-16 in receipt of benefits-related free school meals in Lincolnshire over the school holidays.
Bookings for the summer holidays will open on Tuesday 25th June, so please look at the website if you would like to book onto any of these activities. You will need an eVoucher provided by your school in order to book an activity.
OTHER HELP
Ukrainian Community Groups in Lincolnshire
If you are looking to join a Ukrainian community group, visit the Ukraine support groups directory on 'Connect to Support'.
Cultural differences around politeness
The Reset charity have produced a series of short videos around how politeness differs between the UK and Ukraine. The videos are available to watch here.
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