Supporting the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis
We stand by the people of Ukraine in the face of the invasion by Russia and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this action.
Information for Ukrainian guests
Information, advice and support drop-ins
We're holding information, advice and support drop-ins for Ukrainian refugees, their families and hosts at Jubilee Library.
No need to book, just drop in for an informal chat with members of staff from the Community Hub Team.
Drop in for information and advice about:
- Local services
- Financial support
- Housing
- Practical community support
- Becoming a host
An interpreter will be available at the sessions.
10am to 12.30pm, Tuesdays from 10 January to 28 March
Conference Room 3, Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE
Visit our supporting Ukraine webpages for the latest updates.
If you want to offer accommodation or other support for refugees
As some of our Ukrainian guests are coming to the end of their 6 month stay with their current hosts, we're looking for more hosts in the city who can offer accommodation.
Ideally, we’d like hosts who can commit to at least 6 months.
Individuals and organisations can register on the government’s Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme and find out more about the scheme.
You can also read the government's questions and answers on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
The UK government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme opened in March for visa applications from those who wish to travel to the UK and who have named people in the UK willing to sponsor them.
The government has stated that sponsors will be able to bring named Ukrainians and their immediate family members to the UK in the first phase of the scheme.
If you have a named family or individual you wish to support, you can request to sponsor them by completing the government’s visa application form. You can find this in the ‘How to apply’ section of the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme information.
This also includes guidance around questions such as eligibility, arriving at the UK border and extending stay in the UK.
The government require a separate form for each person wishing to be sponsored.
Advice for council tenants on participating in the Homes for Ukraine scheme
Council tenants are eligible to offer accommodation under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme - we’ll do all we can to support participation. However, there are requirements in your council tenancies you need to be aware of.
We’re advising council tenants looking to take part in the scheme to check with us by contacting housing.customerserices@brighton-hove.gov.uk or calling 01273 29 30 30 to avoid any potential issues.
Connecting refugees from Ukraine with sponsors across the UK
If you’ve signed up for the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship scheme but do not have a named Ukrainian to live in your property, the government will let you know how someone will be matched to your property.
There is a also matching scheme for sponsors and Ukrainian beneficiaries.
The council does not have a role in matching sponsors and refugees in the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
If you want to offer other support for Ukrainian refugees who come to the city, please email refugeehelp@brighton-hove.gov.uk and we will hold your details until we have something further to communicate.
What to do when your guest arrives
You do not need to tell the council that you are hosting a Ukrainian refugee.
We will receive your contact details, your address and your guest’s name from central government so that we can contact you to carry out the necessary checks and give you information about services for your guest.
Your role as a sponsor is to welcome the guest and help them with tasks such as registering with a GP surgery and accessing local services.
We are setting up systems for advising and supporting hosts and guests on the Home for Ukraine Scheme, including information about registering children in schools.
If you have questions related to the Homes for Ukraine scheme or finding support for a Ukrainian refugee arriving in the city, please email Ukrainian.support@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Government schemes and other support for Ukrainians
Guidance on government support available to Ukrainian nationals and their family members. There is also a welcome guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK and a factsheet for Ukranians on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
The Ukraine Family Scheme allows family members of British nationals to come to or stay in the UK.
Ukrainians seeking immigration advice can visit Ukraine Advice Project UK.
Barnardo’s has set up a Ukrainian Support Helpline for anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine offering advice, practical support and access to therapy.
Making a donation
Many people in the county want to do whatever they can to help, and one way is to make a donation.
The best current route to donate and support is through the Disasters Emergencies Committee (DEC). The government has said it will match fund up to £20 million. DEC works with 15 charities including Oxfam, Christian Aid and Save the Children.
There are a number of other international charities you can support:
- The British Red Cross has launched a Ukraine Crisis Appeal to support the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross to fund food, water, first aid, medicines, warm clothes and shelter.
- The UNHCR refugee agency is collecting monetary donations for humanitarian assistance, emergency shelter and relief items like blankets. It will also fund psychological support for refugees.
- The UN’s children’s charity, UNICEF, is accepting donations to help ensure child health and protection services are sustained and families have clean water and food.
There are also a number of local charities providing direct support to new arrivals in the city from many countries affected by war, such as Voices in Exile, Refugee Radio, Thousand41000, and the Hummingbird Project.
You can find out about other groups supporting refugees in Brighton & Hove and further afield through the local City of Sanctuary group, Sanctuary on Sea, and their directory of resources for refugees and migrants in Brighton & Hove.
Giving safely
If you’re looking to donate to causes working in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, you should make a few simple checks before giving:
- check the charity’s name and registration number at www.gov.uk/checkcharity
- make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information
- be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within them
- contact or find out more online about the charity that you’re seeking to donate to or work with to understand how they are spending their funds
- 'ook out for the Fundraising Badge on charity fundraising materials, this is the logo which shows that a charity has committed to fundraise in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice
More information on how to help refugees in Brighton & Hove.
