The Homes for Ukraine scheme has seen 240 Ukrainian refugees welcomed to Bath and North East Somerset in the past five months, it has been revealed.
Photo © Yanosh Nemesh / Shutterstock.com
Under the scheme, 148 adults and 92 children and young people have escaped the war and are currently settled in safe, secure accommodation provided by local residents.
13 other refugees who arrived in the district have since left to return to Ukraine or another country.
The refugees and their sponsor families are being supported by Bath & North East Somerset Council and other local partners.
An additional 81 refugees have been matched with sponsors in the area, but are yet to make the 1700-mile journey.
Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children, Young People, Communities and Culture said: “I’d like to thank all our residents who’ve opened up their homes to people fleeing this terrible war.
“Many of those seeking safe haven within our communities have witnessed unimaginable horror, been separated from their loved ones and don’t know when they will be able to safely return home.
“The compassion shown to them by so many in our communities has been overwhelming.”
Several groups have been set up to support sponsors and guests across the area, including:
Bath Welcomes Refugees – which has been commissioned by the council to support guests across B&NES with English language classes, creating a local network so that guests and sponsors to chat online and organise face-to-face social events, as well as befriending, assisting with furniture and donations and much more.
Keynsham Ukrainian Support Network – The Information Hub is designed to provide support to sponsors. The network also helps sponsors and their guests connect.
Saltford Community Association – As well as offering mutual support, Saltford Community Association provides every arriving family with a Welcome Pack including an iPad donated by Futura Learning and a free SIM card from Vodafone. The contents of the pack are either donated or bought using funds donated by residents to the association’s Saltford Support Fund.
Chew Valley Ukrainian Refugee Support Network – The network consists of sponsors, Ukrainian guests and volunteers, who work together to ensure all Ukrainians coming to the Valley feel welcome, supported and part of a community. As well as face-to-face meetings and events, the Network has created a private website for guests to help them find the support they need to integrate with the local community. The Network organises a free weekly drop-in event for adults and children at the Hub at Bishop Sutton Village Hall. Transport to the Hub can also be provided.
Useful information on the support available for refugees in Bath and the surrounding area is available on the council’s website here.
