You can find out ways local residents can help those impacted by the Ukraine crisis below, as well as advice for Ukrainian nationals arriving in the UK.

We will regularly review and update this page with the latest information available.

Government support

The Government has committed to establishing a humanitarian sponsorship pathway, whereby people from Ukraine who may not have family ties in the UK can be sponsored to come to the UK by willing and able individuals, businesses, or community organisations. There will be no numerical limit on this scheme, and we will welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come and that have matched sponsors.

Please see links to the full announcement by the Home Secretary on 1 March and the Factsheet: Home Office action on Ukraine – Home Office in the media (blog.gov.uk).

Please note that if you – or a business, group or organisation you represent – are looking at how you can help, please remember to go through the official government channels.

A guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK

The Government have produced a guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK. This includes specific information for those arriving on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Welcome: a guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The government have also produced a fact sheet on how Ukrainians can apply to the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme.

Homes for Ukraine: factsheet for Ukrainians – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Ukrainian Family Scheme

The Government has established an expansive Ukrainian Family Scheme which will be fee free and allow British nationals and people settled in the UK to bring a wider group of family members to the UK, extending eligibility to adult parents, grandparents, children over 18, siblings, and their immediate family members.

Ukrainians already in the UK

Ukrainians already in the UK with a visa will be able to extend their stay by extending their visa or switching to another immigration route, where eligible, even if their visa does not normally allow them to do so.

For more information on visa’s visit: UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Homes for Ukraine

The Council has been made aware of the Governments Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

The Scheme, recently announced by central government, seeks to match people, charities, businesses and community groups to Ukrainians who do not have established families in the country, so they are able to come the UK.

We are engaging with local community groups and our partners at Rother Voluntary Action to coordinate and prepare ourselves for the introduction of the scheme and we invite interested groups and organisations to get in touch with us by emailing customer.services@rother.gov.uk

For more information on the Homes for Ukraine scheme and support with sponsoring refugees from Ukraine go to East Sussex County Council.

Local Support

There are a number of community-led donation schemes and national charities supporting the efforts in Ukraine.

Rother Voluntary Action have created a dedicated page for information and advice.

There are also details for some individual areas within Rother:

• Bexhill
• Battle
• Robertsbridge and Burwash
• Rye

To ensure your donation is most effectively used, and will provide the support and supplies that are needed in the region, go to DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal | Disasters Emergency Committee or DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal | British Red Cross to donate.

Ukrainian translation – How the NHS works

Healthwatch Norfolk have translated two documents into Ukrainian explaining the NHS for refugees and newcomers which can be accessed here: Information for refugees from Ukraine – Healthwatch Norfolk

Ukrainians already in the UK

Ukrainians already in the UK with a visa will be able to extend their stay by extending their visa or switching to another immigration route, where eligible, even if their visa does not normally allow them to do so.

For more information on visa’s visit: UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Published: 6th April 2022