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.

If you are interested in applying to be a sponsor, we would strongly recommend that you consider the things that City of Sanctuary have listed here.  The Sanctuary Foundation also has a list of resources to help prepare for hosting babies and children.

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

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

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.

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

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

About the UK Government 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.

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