Supporting people from Ukraine – A Homes for Ukraine Update
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and the UK Government introduced the Homes for Ukraine (HFU) scheme, I remember regular meetings with Southampton City Council (SCC) about how we could support people arriving from Ukraine to settle into their new homes and lives in Southampton.
Working alongside SCC and in partnership with Citizens Advice Southampton, we employed an Advice & Support Worker, Chris, who provided practical support to hosts and guests, helping people navigate their new surroundings and settle into life in Southampton. Thanks to funding from Pioneer Trust, we were also able to offer counselling to those who needed it, which made a real difference to people who had experienced so much upheaval.
When Chris moved on to another role, we took the opportunity to review the service and were delighted to recruit two Ukrainian/Russian-speaking colleagues, Alla and Denys. Their contribution has been invaluable. Being able to speak to someone in their own language, who understood their experiences and the challenges they were facing, made a real difference to the support we could offer.
The contract from SCC to deliver the HFU service ended in March 2026 and was subsequently put out to tender. We were unsuccessful in the tender process, with the contract being awarded to our partners, Citizens Advice Southampton.
As a result, from 1 September 2026, Citizens Advice Southampton will become the sole organisation responsible for delivering the HFU service in Southampton. Alla and Denys will transfer to Citizens Advice Southampton as part of this change.
We are working closely with Citizens Advice Southampton to make the transition as smooth as possible and, most importantly, to ensure that people we have supported continue to receive the help they need.
I’m incredibly proud of what CLEAR has been able to achieve over the past four years. We have supported hundreds of people and families from Ukraine, helping them navigate the challenges of settling into a new country and building new lives here in Southampton.
It has been a privilege to walk alongside so many incredible, resilient people. I’m grateful to everyone who has played a part in making this support possible — our colleagues, partners, funders, hosts and, above all, the people from Ukraine who have allowed us to support them.
Слава Україні!
Pete | CLEAR Project Manager
