Cornwall group offers support and rooms for refugees fleeing Ukraine
Supporting Ukraine in St Austell have been working to find people with spare rooms who can help
Last updated 15th Mar 2022
A group from Cornwall are helping to home refugees in the county, now the government is set to announce new visa rules for Ukrainians finding settlement in the UK.
The Supporting Ukraine group in St Austell have been offering advice, support and progression for Ukrainians living in Cornwall and families of those still living in areas of conflict.
Chris Gardner, a spokesperson for the group, said: "We started off about two and half weeks ago and in that time we're collecting donations at Holy Trinity Church which have been sent off to Ukraine, collecting money for the British Red Cross Emergency Appeal.
"We're also working with people on the hosting Ukrainians programme by giving people advice, support, identifying places and helping people as much as they can".
From today, Monday 14th March, the group are getting involved in the government Homes for Ukraine scheme to continue their work in homing refugees further.
Chris told us: "We set up an email address to direct people who might have an interest in housing refugees or had a spare room. We've had a really good response, half a dozen then more and more. We've acknowledged their interest and will now passing their information as and when required to the government.
He continued: "I wish I had more space. I have a stepson over in Ukraine so I'm holding out a bed space for him in our house if he eventually manages to get here. I've been offered umpteen spare rooms, I've even had people saying they'll turn their dining room into a bedroom, all of those wonderful offers.
"It's really great to see people actually find a cause that they can really relate to and people who thought they couldn't help can now help. I've got people in their 70s and early 80s who've said they can help, they've got space and would love to take people in".
"This morning (14th March) I'm looking at a house which has been donated for six months. That's going to go to the family of a local family who are making their way across Europe and waiting for their visas. They're going to be living near to their family member who lives here in Cornwall while the lady who owns the house works away for six months.
The goal from the group is to get volunteers who can help with all processes of the housing process, including education and integration with society. He hopes to see more volunteer groups opening up their services to Ukrainians under the new government scheme.
Chris added: "Housing people is not just giving people a bed. They'll be wanting to find work, they'll be wanting to get part of the community and the adults if they don't speak English they're going to have to learn English.
"It's actually I think something we can all do, get involved one way or another".
You can contact the group about available rooms at homeforukrainians@europe.com