Over 900 Ukrainian refugees to be welcomed in East Sussex
Just over 200 already have visas sorted through the Homes for Ukraine scheme
East Sussex is set to welcome at least 902 refugees from Ukraine, county councillors have heard this week.
On Tuesday (April 19), East Sussex County Council’s cabinet were given an update on the local response to the war in Ukraine and the steps being taken to support refugees when they arrive.
According to the latest figures, councillors heard, 902 individual Ukrainians are expected to come into the county through the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, having been matched to 368 sponsor households in East Sussex. So far, 204 of these 902 individuals have been issued with visas.
During the meeting, council leader Keith Glazier said he felt the ‘key message’ was that anyone looking to host Ukrainian refugees should register with this national scheme as it would be the fastest route to providing support.
Cllr Glazier said: “This is a marathon, not a sprint. This isn’t going to be over in five minutes, it is going to go on.
“To keep the enthusiasm and interest of people up, we do need to have systems in place that we can monitor to ensure that we are doing the best we can. I’m sure there will be a lot of successes along the way and I am sure there will be one or two that don’t go as well as we might hope them to.
“All we can do is continue to support the officer team and our volunteer teams in the community that are doing their best. We will do what we can to ensure that continues.”
Launched last month, the Homes for Ukraine scheme offers a route for Ukrainians to apply to live in the UK, as long as they have a named sponsor offering a place to stay.
Successful applicants will receive full access to public funds and services in the UK and will have the right to work, as well as an interim support payment of £200 per person.
While a national scheme, the process of matching refugees to sponsors is undertaken by individuals themselves. This can be through an existing connection, voluntary organisations or via other channels such as the internet or social media.
Sponsorship must be offered for a minimum period of six months and individuals from Ukraine can stay in the UK for up to three years.
For the first year of the scheme, sponsors will be eligible to receive £350 per month as an optional ‘thank you payment’. This payment would not affect existing benefits or council tax reductions.
This scheme will also offer council tax reductions for empty or second homes used to house Ukrainians.
Anyone offering a home through the scheme will be DBS checked.
It runs alongside a second scheme, which makes it easier for Ukrainians with family in the UK to apply for visas. Unlike the Homes for Ukraine scheme, this entry method does not provide any financial support from the government, although those accepted will have immediate access to benefits, public services and the right to work and study.
While much of the council’s response has been focused on preparing support to refugees arriving through these schemes, the council has also been taking other actions in response to the war.
This includes taking steps to identify any exposure to investments or contracts with Russian companies. According to the council these checks show there is no exposure to Russia or Belarus.
However, the East Sussex Pension Fund, for which ESCC is the administering authority, has been found to have some direct investment exposure to Russian markets. This is described as ‘negligible’ in council papers as it represents no more than 0.07 per cent of the fund’s assets.
The council says it has also (alongside other local authorities) taken steps to bolster its virtual security measures in the face of a heightened risk of cyber attacks.
Last month, Cllr Glazier wrote to the prime minister and Ukrainian ambassador setting out the county council’s desire to help contribute to the national response. This letter was endorsed by all the leaders of the council’s other political groups.
Speaking on Tuesday, Liberal Democrat group leader David Tutt said: “My thanks go to you for the letter you have written on behalf of the leaders of the different political groups and I want to assure you that we are 100 per cent with you on this and we look forward to welcoming Ukrainian residents into this wonderful county of ours.
“It is heartbreaking to see the situation as it has unfolded. The number of Ukrainians coming to the UK is relatively small compared to the overall number who have left the country. Out of 4.5 million, the numbers coming to the UK are minuscule.
“As a leader of a borough council … I believe that the work that has taken place here in East Sussex between the different local authorities, statutory organisations, the voluntary sector and the work Sean Ruth, the officer leading the council’s response is really very good and has been an exemplar.”
Similar messages of support were given by the council’s other political groups.