Ukraine Crisis
Offers of accommodation
The UK Government has created two new visa routes for people from Ukraine:
- Ukrainian Family Scheme – This is where an existing Ukrainian family in the UK sponsor their relatives to live with them.
- The Homes for Ukraine Scheme – The route for people fleeing Ukraine who do not have familial ties with anyone in the UK.
The UK Government designed the scheme to enable individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to offer accommodation for a minimum of six months and for that to be matched to people from the Ukraine wanting to come to the UK. The sponsor and person from Ukraine need to connect outside the system and nominate each other during the application process. An organisation called RESET has been commissioned by the UK Government to help facilitate links between people from Ukraine and sponsors who have no prior connections.
Find more information here: https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/
Register your interest here: https://www.gov.uk/register-interest-homes-ukraine
Welsh Government Super Sponsor Scheme
This will work alongside the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. From Saturday 26 March, the Welsh Government will be able to directly sponsor people to come to the UK. This will be through a structured arrival and integration process in Wales, initially managed by people coming to Welcome Centres who will then go on to medium and longer-term accommodation, including through the ‘hosting’ offers from people in Wales.
Find more information here: https://gov.wales/written-statement-homes-ukraine-refugees-scheme-update
If you have registered with the Government schemes and awaiting further information, please contact our Community Cohesion Coordinator on 01495 766097 or support.ukraine@torfaen.gov.uk. It is not a mandatory requirement, but we are building a list of interested sponsors to be in a position to offer support when families arrive in Torfaen.
Find more information on how we process your personal information on our Ukrainian Refugee Schemes Privacy Notice.
Financial donations
Disasters Emergency Committee
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is providing urgent humanitarian aid for families who are fleeing the conflict.
Your entire donation goes to charities, including the British Red Cross and Oxfam, who are on the borders where Ukrainians have fled - and on the front line in Ukraine itself.
The most important thing that anyone can do to help out in this crisis is to donate money. The Red Cross says that cash donations are by far the quickest, safest and most direct way to help people in a humanitarian crisis. It doesn't matter how much you can afford to give – every single penny makes a difference.
The UK Government will match donations from the public pound-for-pound up to £20 million, meaning your support will go even further.
To donate, visit www.dec.org.uk
UNICEF
UNICEF is especially concerned for the safety and wellbeing of children who have become separated from their families, working round the clock to keep families safe.
To support their work visit their website: https://www.unicef.org.uk
Or you can donate by telephone: 0300 330 5699.
Donations of items
Not everyone is able to give money, so the Red Cross has some great advice for people who would like to donate items.
There are local organisations in the UK who are collecting things, such as clothing and blankets who often have links to partners organisations in Ukraine or in border countries.
If you have items you want to donate, they suggest you:
- Look for any local charity that may be collecting
- Check what they need so you can donate the right items
- Ask if they can transport the items before donating to them
Health Information
Last Modified: 07/09/2022
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