Homes for Ukraine

There are now around 500 Ukrainian guests living in the South Cambridgeshire area and more are still expected.  They are currently being accommodated with host families in 67 parishes.  South Cambridgeshire District Council has been extremely busy and very well organised in providing help for refugees and their hosts in many practical ways.

We are trying to play our part in the Wilbrahams and have set up a small group to take this forward. We have developed close contact with OASISS – a support group in Stapleford and the Shelfords, helping with weekly coffee mornings, getting to know Ukrainian guests and their hosts, assisting with initiatives such as language classes, and finding other ways to help – such as giving lifts, participating in social activities or providing back-up when hosts are away.

We are still planning to do more. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine shows no sign of abating and it is now becoming clear that there will be no early return home.  We are currently working with South Cambs to help provide follow-up support for guests who need to move on from their initial placements with host families. Firstly, some village residents have offered to be on a register to provide short-term or emergency accommodation to help families with gaps in provision.  Secondly, we are hoping to help Ukrainian guests currently living with host families to move into their own accommodation. We plan to secure a house for rental in one of the villages, and will support this, as necessary, by providing financial, contractual, and social help to enable the family to become self-supporting and to integrate in this country.

We are in the process of setting up a formal support charity, which will enable us to undertake this substantial support. I am pleased to say that the Parish Council has given an initial grant of £1,000 to enable these preparatory activities. Once our charity is established, we will return to Wilbraham residents who have already pledged help in financial and practical ways. We will also raise funds more widely, holding events and approaching other individuals, commercial companies and grant giving organisations.

We hope to begin offering this higher level of support in the Autumn, a time when the initial 6 months accommodation offered by host families may come to an end.

We hope that as we welcome and integrate Ukrainian guests into our villages, the whole community will grow in understanding of the needs of people who are forced to leave their homes.

If you want to get involved, please email me on hb384@cam.ac.uk

Hilary Burton