Homes for Ukraine

Homes for Ukraine scheme

To help people fleeing the war in Ukraine, people in the UK can offer them accommodation in their homes.

Individuals, charities, community groups and businesses can now register an interest in providing accommodation for Ukrainians, and their immediate family members, forced to escape their homeland.

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Sefton Council Action Group

Sefton Council has set up an Action Group, which includes representatives of the Communities, Faith and Voluntary sectors  to deal with the Borough's response to the scheme. Its role will be to ensure Homes for Ukraine is safe and beneficial for everyone involved.

This will include ensuring that:

  • accommodation being offered is suitable and safe;
  • DBS (formerly CRB) checks are carried out on sponsors,
  • safeguarding procedures are in place
  • payments can be administered .

The Council will also be working to ensure school places are available and that arriving Ukrainians have access to essential services such as health and any specific support they need.

We are setting up an enquiries email address which can be used to ask questions about the scheme and what is going on in Sefton. It will be added here as soon as  the address is live on our system.


Find out more

Information about Homes for Ukraine can be found on the national gov.uk website.


Guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK

The Government has produced a Guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK. It contains specific information for those arriving on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

It includes sections on:

  • Arriving in the UK
  • Getting used to like in the UK
  • What to do if things go wrong
  • Legal Rights and Responsibilities
  • Applying for a School Place in England
  • A Quick Guide to Key Services

 You can find the Guide here.


Some initial questions

Who should register?

People with a residential spare room or separate self-contained accommodation that is unoccupied are being asked to come forward. 

Accommodation is needed for as long as hosts are able to provide it, but there is a minimum expectation of six months.

Government guidance is that inspections will be carried out to ensure the accommodation offered is suitable.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on all adults in host households. This is typically required for people who work closely with children and vulnerable adults – teachers, doctors, social workers, civil servants – and is a simple, standard safety check. 

For those households sponsoring a Ukrainian family which includes a child or a vulnerable adult, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with Barred Lists check will be carried out.

Will Ukrainian refugees be allowed to work?

Ukrainian people arriving under the scheme will be able to:

  • Live and work in the UK for up to three years;
  • access healthcare, benefits, employment support, education, and English language tuition.

They will also be able to apply for benefits.

Do I need to provide meals?

People are only being asked to provide accommodation, but they can offer meals as well if they wish to.  

The Government is offering a £350 per month ‘thank you’ payment to people who do provide accommodation through the scheme.

National Ukrainian Displaced Persons Travel Scheme

National Rail is offering Ukrainian nationals travelling to the UK free onward train travel to get them to a safe place. 

You can find out more here.


Barnardo’s Ukrainian Support Helpline

Following discussion with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Barnardos has have set up the Ukrainian Support Helpline.

Anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine can call the free Helpline on 0800 148 8586.

You can find out more about the Helpline here.


What else can I do?

You can also 


Last Updated on Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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