Supporting Ukrainian Refugees

The military conflict taking place in Ukraine has seen the humanitarian needs of its citizens escalate dramatically. Millions of people have now fled the country according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and many more thousands have been displaced from their homes within Ukraine.

Information on the UK Government’s response to the situation in Ukraine can be found here and the Red Cross have provided regular updates on their work supporting refugees within neighbouring counties, more details of which can be found here

What can I do to help?

If you would like to support financially, we are encouraging people to give via the UK Disasters Emergency Committee international appeal to support front line organisations working to support the refugee effort. Details of this appeal can be found here: https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal

There is still an urgent need for people to be sponsors, so if you would consider hosting someone from Ukraine and offering them a room in your home, please register your interest through the Government portal and the local authority will be in touch about next steps.

What is happening locally?

CLEAR are working with Citizens Advice Southampton to provide wraparound support to people who have come to the city under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme. You can email them at HFU@sotoncab.org.uk or call them free on 0800 246 1911 for details of the support available in Southampton.

If you are a sponsor, the Southampton City Council Homes for Ukraine team will inform you of how you can receive support and advice. They can be contacted at scchomesforukraine@southampton.gov.uk.

You can also contact us directly if you need support, please contact us via email HFU@sotoncab.org.uk.

If there are any issues with hosting further down the line, know that there will be resources available to help you manage potential conflict and challenges – the welfare support provided by the Advice Workers at CLEAR Project and Citizens Advice are a big part of this.

Southampton Ukrainian Community Support Group meet on a Saturday from 16:00 to 18:00 at the Edmund Kell Hall, Bellevue Road, Southampton SO15 2AY

UK Government Schemes and other Organisations *

Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme

The Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members to apply for permission to come to the UK. Everyone must make a separate application, even children travelling with a family member.

Your sponsor must be:

  • a British or Irish citizen, or be ‘settled in the UK’ (which means having the right to live in the UK permanently)
  • able to provide accommodation for a minimum of 6 months

It is free to apply.

If your application is successful, you will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.

Guidance for sponsors, including eligibility, how to apply and advice about how to make your guest welcome in the UK is here.

If you are interested in applying to be a sponsor, we would strongly recommend that you consider the things that our friends at City of Sanctuary have listed here 

Other organisations working nationally to around the Homes for Ukraine scheme include Sanctuary Foundation and RESET and they may be able to provide additional information.

The Refugees and Persons who Seek Asylum Project has produced an excellent practical Guide to Ukrainian and UK Culture for Ukrainian’s in the UK and UK hosts – available here: Ukraine_Uk-Culture-Guide-and-Supplement_June_2022_RAAS.

Please note that CLEAR are not able to assist in the process to match those offering sponsorship to Ukrainian individuals and families.

Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

If you have been given permission to be in the UK under one of the Ukraine Schemes, you may be able to apply for a further 18 months permission to stay in the UK under the new Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. You’ll be able to apply 3 months before your existing visa is due to expire. We are waiting for further information from the UK government about the new scheme.

Ukraine Advice Project UK
A group of volunteer legal professionals with immigration and asylum expertise who are providing a free service to connect Ukrainian citizens (and others fleeing Ukraine) with free legal advice on UK immigration, visas and asylum from qualified and regulated lawyers. Details available here.
IAS Services

IAS are offering free legal advice to all Ukrainian nationals and residents looking to migrate to or extend their stay in the UK. Details available here.

Country Navigator

Country Navigator  is a website to help sponsors increase their cultural awareness and includes some particularly helpful videos.

The Sanctuary Foundation

The Sanctuary Foundation has a list of resources to help prepare for hosting babies and children. They are also supporting potential sponsors, and assisting the government in the roll-out of the ‘Homes For Ukraine’ scheme.


* Disclaimer – These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by CLEAR of any of the products, services or opinions of the organisation or individual. CLEAR bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.