30th March 2023

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?

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 aim to guide Ukrainian guests to local services during their stay in Lincolnshire.

Information is regularly updated and topics covered include:

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.

Guests becoming sponsors/hosts

Did you know that it's possible for guests on the Homes for Ukraine scheme who have moved to their own accommodation to themselves sponsor other Ukrainians looking for a host? This could be Ukrainians already in the UK needing a new host or to help those still in Ukraine come to the UK.

To qualify to be a Homes for Ukraine sponsor people need to meet the government eligibility criteria.

A guest who is currently living with a UK sponsor cannot offer their host/sponsor’s accommodation, only the UK sponsor can offer their own home. However, a number of Ukrainian guests have moved into their own private rented accommodation - and if they have a tenancy for longer than six months they can become a sponsor (subject to the usual checks).

If you're a Ukrainian guest and have any further questions about becoming a sponsor yourself, please email us at homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

In-person support from Citizens Advice - new Lincoln date added

Citizens Advice and 'Wellbeing Lincs' are offering in-person support for hosts and guests in Lincolnshire at a number of community groups across the county, including a new Lincoln session starting next week:

Lincoln 4-5pm every Thursday starting from 6 April 2023
The Salthouse, Free School Lane, Lincoln LN2 1EY

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 note that Jubilee Church in Grantham is closed for the next two weeks. The Skegness sessions, previously held from 12.30-2pm on Mondays have also been paused for the time being.

Eurovision Song Contest 2023 – ticket ballot now open for displaced people from Ukraine

Applications for the ballot for tickets for displaced people from Ukraine for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 are now open and will close at 4pm on Thursday 6 April 2023.

The government is providing these subsidised tickets to ensure that people displaced by the war in Ukraine are able to attend the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool. Individuals on the Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Extension Scheme, and Ukraine Family Scheme are welcome to apply.

Find out more and apply on the gov.uk website.

Easter events and activities

With the Easter holidays almost upon us, there's lots to do in Lincolnshire. Take a look at the Visit Lincoln website for some inspiration.

We've also highlighted some local events being held below:

Easter Egg Hunt
Centenary Methodist Church, Red Lion Street, Boston PE21 6NY
Sunday 2 April to Monday 11 April 2023
Join Centenary Methodist Church's Easter Egg Hunt - look out for the Ukrainian flag eggs in Boston shop windows and complete the answer sheet to claim your prize! Find out more on the event poster, available in English and Ukrainian.

Children's Soft Play
The Play Factory, 1 Bolingbroke Rd, Fairfield Industrial Estate, Louth LN11 0WA
10.30am-12.30pm, Wednesday 5 April 2023
Join the East Lindsey Area of Sanctuary Welcome Club for soft play for children aged up to 12. Admission and refreshments included.

Easter Egg Hunt
Rauceby Hall Gardens, South Rauceby NG34 8QN
11am-4pm, Sunday 9 April 2023
Follow the Easter bunny trail! Easter egg for every child, afternoon teas, visit the lambs plus much more fun! £5 per child, accompanying adults enter for free (please note, card payment facilities are not available).

Easter fun for Ukrainian families and sponsors
1-3pm, Monday 10 April 2023
Centenary Methodist Church, Red Lion Street, Boston PE21 6NY
Tea, cake and crafting on Easter Monday. No tickets required, just email tracy@driverlinegb.co.uk to confirm your attendance.

Easter crafts, activities and games
2-5pm, Monday 10 April 2023
Louth Youth Centre, Park Avenue, Louth LN11 8BX
Join the East Lindsey Area of Sanctuary Welcome Club for fun Easter activities. Soup and refreshments provided.

Visit to Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre
Meet at Louth Bus Station at 9.45am, Wednesday 12 April 2023
Join the East Lindsey Area of Sanctuary Welcome Club for a visit to Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary and Wildlife Centre. Fish and chips for lunch are included along with a trip to the beach (weather permitting!). Return buses are at 3pm and 5pm.

Ukrainian Cultural Centre Lincoln (UCCL)

Open Day

On Sunday 2 April 2023, UCCL is holding an open day at St Mary le Wigford Church - join them from 11am-3pm for tea and a chat.

Ukrainian Easter events

During Ukrainian Easter weekend, join UCCL for 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.

West Lindsey District Council - host payment changes

West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) is making some changes to the way they pay thank you payments to hosts.

If you're a host in the WLDC area they will contact you explaining the changes they're making to the payment timescales, and how this will affect you.

If you have any questions, please contact WLDC directly on homesforukraine@west-lindsey.gov.uk.

Leaving your child alone - advice from the NSPCC

The NSPCC, the UK's leading children's charity, has some helpful advice on children staying home alone in the UK. This may vary compared to expectations in Ukraine so it's worth having a read.

You can read the English version on the NSPCC website or alternatively download a PDF translated into Ukrainian.

As a reminder, in situations where parents must return to Ukraine, leaving children behind in the care of people who don’t have parental responsibility for them (for example, aunties or godmothers or even hosts themselves), please inform us at homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk. We need to know about these situations in advance, so we can ensure the appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place for the children concerned.

Reminder - Easter Holiday Activities and Food programme for school age children

Bookings remain open for the Easter Holiday Activities and Food programme, taking place from Monday 3 April to Friday 14 April 2023 (excluding weekends and bank holidays).

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.

British Red Cross

International family tracing service

If you've lost contact with your family due to the recent conflict escalation in Ukraine, or you know your family has left Ukraine and crossed the border, please keep trying to contact them as this may be a temporary loss of contact as they transition to networks in other countries.

If you're unable to contact your family and you think they are still within the territory of Ukraine, the British Red Cross may be able to help you: email findyour_family@redcross.org.uk providing your full name and telephone number and a team member from the International Family Tracing service will contact you as soon as possible.

Increases to standard refugee destitution support rate

Due to the cost of living crisis the British Red Cross has increased its standard refugee destitution support rate from £20 to £30 per person (per week). The maximum amount for a family will be capped at £180 per week (even if the family has more than six people). This destitution support is available for new arrivals who have applied for and are waiting to receive mainstream benefits.

Please call 0116 479 0900 (Monday to Friday from 10am-3pm) or email: RSEastMidlandsUkraine@redcross.org.uk for further information.

Employability & Support Events

Thank you to everyone that attended our employability and support morning in Stamford last week. We've had some fantastic feedback and are pleased to share details of two further events below - please save the dates!

Lincoln
4.30pm-7pm, Tuesday 30 May 2023 at Lincoln College
Boston
10am-12.30pm, Friday 2 June 2023 at Boston College

Night Light Cafés

The Night Light Cafés offer an out of hours, non-clinical support service for people who are struggling with their mental health. These safe spaces are hosted by teams of trained volunteers, who provide a warm welcome alongside a listening service and signposting advice.

To make a referral for support from one of the cafés, please use the appropriate form following this link.

The Night Light Café operates in various locations around Lincoln and has now launched in several other towns around the county in partnership with local charities including Bourne, Gainsborough, Grantham, Holbeach, Horncastle, Long Sutton, Louth, Mablethorpe, Sleaford, Spalding, Spilsby and Stamford. With more locations to be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, including timetables, please view the attached poster or contact stacey@actstrust.org.uk / call 0300 011 1200.

East Lindsey Area of Sanctuary Welcome Club

Join the East Lindsey Area of Sanctuary Welcome Club from 7-9pm on the second Monday of every month at Louth Youth Centre for activities, advice, befriending and refreshments.

Address details: Louth Youth Centre, Park Avenue, Louth LN11 8BX

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.