27th 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?
Reminder - 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.
Hosts - have your guests recently arrived or left your accommodation?
All hosts have the option to receive a monthly 'thank you' payment of £350 (rising to £500 for guests who have been in the UK for over 12 months). To access this, it's important that you promptly email us on homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk to notify us that your guest(s) have arrived. We will then email you with information about how to apply for this payment. We will also email you AND your guest(s) about how your guest(s) can claim an interim payment of £200 per guest for subsistence costs.
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.
Open consultation - Ukraine driving licence exchange
A Ukrainian driving licence can currently be used to drive a car in Great Britain for up to 12 months after guests arrive. The Department for Transport is now consulting on a proposal to extend that period to 36 months, matching the initial time provided for by the Ukraine visa schemes.
This consultation seeks views on this proposed extension, sets out options for the length of the extension and provides the opportunity for other comments.
The consultation closes at 11.45pm on 2 May 2023. Visit the gov.uk website to have your say.
New Horncastle ESOL course
There's a new ESOL conversation class coming to Horncastle. Starting on Tuesday 2 May 2023 from 6-8pm, the course will run for six weeks at Boston College's Horncastle Campus on Mareham Road. Find out more on the Boston College website.
Local elections next Thursday, 4 May 2023
Next Thursday, local elections are taking place across England, including within all seven of Lincolnshire’s district and borough councils.
As non-EU and non-EEA citizens, Ukrainian guests are not eligible to vote in any upcoming UK local or general elections. Further information on the types of election, referendums, and who can vote is available on the gov.uk website.
Voter ID in polling stations - information for hosts
From 4 May 2023, eligible voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections, including the 4 May local elections. There is a list of accepted forms of photo ID, this includes passports, driving licences and bus passes.
Learn more on the Electoral Commission website.
Coronation of King Charles III
People across the country and the Commonwealth are invited to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort over a weekend of special events on 6-8 May 2023.
The Coronation is centred around a solemn religious ceremony that has remained largely unchanged for over 1,000 years and takes place at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday 6 May 2023.
There's a dedicated online toolkit of downloadable materials to inspire your Coronation celebrations, including printable activities for kids, bunting templates, recipe inspiration and more. Visit the official Coronation website for details.
Monday 8 May 2023 is a special Bank Holiday proclaimed by the Prime Minister in honour of the Coronation, giving everyone the opportunity to join in with their communities and good causes through Big Help Out activities.
Local events celebrating the Coronation
There are many events being held locally across the whole Coronation weekend from screenings to street parties - take a look at the Visit Lincoln website to find out what's on near you.
Thanks also to Stamford Diversity Group for letting us know about their free Coronation Party at Christ Church Stamford taking place from 12.30-3.30pm on Sunday 7 May 2023, featuring music from Latino Sound and King Don Steel Drums, street art from Tony Nero and poetry from Scott Coe and Daniel Paice.
Local Eurovision events
The countdown is on for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest!
Cinemas across the UK will be screening the Grand Final on Saturday 13 May 2023 so check your local cinema listings if you're interested in watching it on the big screen!
Thanks also to those of you who have shared the following events with us:
Eurovision at Rauceby Hall
7pm, Saturday 13 May 2023
Rauceby Hall Gardens, South Rauceby NG34 8QN
Find out more on the HURLNET Facebook page.
#VisionforUkraine - Eurovision Quiz, Ruskovian Contest & Raffle
7pm, Saturday 20 May 2023
The Black Bull, 10 Rectory Road, Ruskington NG34 9AB
To mark the anniversary of their arrival in the UK, Lera and Nastia together with their hosts Gemma and Ben, are holding this special charity event. Find out more on the event poster.
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.
Please also note that our Lincoln sessions, held from 4pm-5pm on Thursdays, are moving to St Mary le Wigford church from Thursday 4 May 2023.
Are you interested in volunteering?
If you’re interested in volunteering but unsure about what you might be able to do and where to start, the online 'Let's talk about volunteering' session could be for you!
This informal online session, run by Voluntary Centre Service, is a great introduction to volunteering in the UK. As well as finding out about the many ways in which you can volunteer, you will learn about how you can benefit others and what’s in it for you. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions and maybe even have a go at some micro-volunteering. Click on the links below to book a place via Eventbrite:
All Ukrainians in Lincolnshire are very welcome to attend. The sessions will run for approximately 45 minutes.
International Rescue Committee - Healing Classrooms
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is delighted to offer its free training programme to educators in Lincolnshire. Healing Classrooms are safe and nurturing learning spaces where children affected by crisis and conflict can learn, grow and thrive.
The training consists of three online sessions, held at 3.30pm on 9, 16 and 23 May, led by an IRC education specialist who has experience of the English education system as well as having worked with refugees both in this country and abroad. The sessions will provide educators with an opportunity to learn about the Healing Classrooms model and to share expertise with other colleagues in Lincolnshire.
These sessions are for schools in Lincolnshire only and places are limited to 25 - please help us spread the word to any schools in your network that would benefit from the training.
Interested schools can contact cintia.shiratori@rescue.org for further information or visit the IRC booking form to reserve a place.
Reminder - Lincolnshire Careers Fair, supported by CareinLincs Careers
10am-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).
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.