Update for those supporting refugees from Ukraine 7 July 2022

General

Published on July 11th, 2022 | by Admin17

All information previously shared can be found on our Support for Ukraine webpage – where you will also find our ‘Ukrainian Guest information hub’ which we encourage you to share with your guests. The online information hub is our equivalent of a ‘Welcome pack’ for guests (we are sharing information digitally so that we are able to keep our information regularly updated, and guests should be able to switch to view in their own language if they wish).

Please note that in addition to these emails, all hosts will receive information from us relating to DBS checks, accommodation checks, £350 monthly host and £350 one-off guest payments; hosts should already have received information from us about this through our welcome email.

For any questions not covered in this e-newsletter or on our Support for Ukraine webpages, please email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk

Grants for activities and education

Financial help is now being offered to Ukrainian families to help them to integrate into British community life thanks to a new grant scheme launched this week by South Cambridgeshire District Council. Up to £300 per project is offered for a wide range of events to help reduce social isolation and encourage families to feel involved in their local community and life in Britain. A grant fund total of £20,000 is open for applicants until the end of the 2022/23 financial year funded by central government. Project ideas include buying books for English language classes, ingredients to fund a cookery day, venue hire or travel costs to take Ukrainian guests on a trip to Cambridge to see the sights. But, as we say, the most important aim is to help people to integrate.

Parish councils, community groups, informal groups or individual hosts can apply. Applications will be assessed weekly to ensure a quick turnaround. Criteria, guidance and an application form can be found on our website.

If you have any questions about these grants, please email ukraine.grants@scambs.gov.uk

Bikeability training

As part of our initiative with two local charities (OWL Bikes and Camtrust) to offer free bicycles to guests from Ukraine, we are pleased to be able now to announce the dates for the free Bikeability training sessions that will be delivered by Outspoken Training. There will be a translator at each session. These will be at one of two locations in Cambridge: either Lammas Land (CB3 9EY) or Coleridge Recreation Ground (CB1 3PR).

There are four different levels to choose from depending on ability:

Children’s Bikeability Level 1 (Off-road fun: Level 1 challenges pupils to control and master their bikes through a variety of playground games. The training aims to boost confidence and excite participants to cycle more off-road. Minimum age: 7 years old)
Children’s Bikeability Level 2 (Residential rider: Level 2 takes place on local roads around school that Year 5 and 6 pupils are likely to cycle on. Children receive a realistic cycling experience equipping them with the skills to cycle short journeys e.g., to school. Riders are educated on effective observations, understanding road priorities, communicating with other road users and effective road positioning. Minimum age: 9 years old)
Adult return to cycling
Adult residential riders

The dates and times of the courses are:

Friday 22 July 2022; 10.00am – 1.00pm – Tamsin and Sue – Children’s Bikeability Level 1 – Lammas Land (CB3 9EY)
Friday 29 July 2022; 10.00am – 1.00pm – Rob and Sara – Children’s Bikeability Level 1 – Coleridge Recreation Ground (CB1 3PR)
Friday 5 August 2022; 10.00am – 1.00pm – Rob and Sara – Adult return to cycling – Lammas Land (CB3 9EY)
Friday 19 August 2022; 10.00am – 1.00pm – Tamsin and Hugh – Children’s Bikeability Level 2 – Lammas Land (CB3 9EY)
Saturday 20 August 2022; 10.00am – 1.00pm – Tamsin and TBC – Adult residential riders – Coleridge Recreation Ground (CB1 3PR)
Saturday 27 August 2022; 10.00am – 1.00pm – Rob and Hugh – Children’s Bikeability Level 2 – Coleridge Recreation Ground (CB1 3PR)

Please encourage your guests to book their free session via the Outspoken bookings page but only if they have already received their free bike or had one loaned to them. If you are still waiting, you will be able to book onto a future session once further dates have been released.

On the day: please inform your trainer of your bike order number so we can keep track of who has booked onto a session. If you need a reminder of your order number, please email CLP@scambs.gov.uk

If guests cannot make any of the sessions, we also want to highlight the useful and free Transport for London online cycle skills course which guests may find beneficial

Coming soon: Cambridge University Botanic Garden free pass scheme

The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is generously providing free admission to the Botanic Garden for Ukrainian refugees. Their goal is to welcome Ukrainian refugees to the Garden, give them access to a beautiful green space in Cambridge, and show them what the Garden has to offer as an educational and leisure facility in the city.

Free tickets will be offered for those over the age of 16 (children 16 and under are already admitted free of charge). Host families will need to pay the standard garden admission fee.

The tickets will be offered (one per person) from next week and guests will soon be able to register their interest in receiving an admission ticket by filling out an application form. Tickets will be distributed weekly via post; more information will be available in our next bulletin.

Please let us know if your guests are moving on

Please remember that, if your guests are planning to move on into alternative accommodation or have already done so, it is important that you let us know. This is so that we can update our records and adjust any payments accordingly. If this is the case for your guests, please email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk as soon as possible, and include your name, address and details of the guests who have moved elsewhere.

Online course: How to speak in clear and simple English to the refugee in your home

Please see the attached PDF flyer which is about a 90-minute ongoing course, offered online, called ‘How To Speak in Clear and Simple English to the Refugee in Your Home’. It’s in the evenings and held via Zoom. Hosts just attend once. There is a minimum donation of £1 and all proceeds go to West End Refugee Service. Only hosts can attend this version and their refugee can be from anywhere. Sign-up to attend a course online or email info@englishunlocked.co.uk if you have any questions.

Short guide to financial support available

The Think Communities Team at Cambridgeshire County Council have provided us with the attached document which may help some of your guests to access more support about which they may not yet be aware. It contains information on benefits checking, energy saving, budget planning, debt help, grants and more. Please share it with anyone that you feel may benefit.

Upcoming jobs fair

Jobcentre Plus in Cambridgeshire have announced that they will be holding a jobs fair for Ukrainian jobseekers. This will take place at the Cambridge Job Centre, Henry Giles House, 73 – 79 Chesterton Rd, Cambridge, CB4 3BQ on Wednesday 27 July 2022 from 10am to 1pm. There are so far around 20 employers confirmed as attending, including Asda, Aspire, Atlas Hotels, Cambridge Network, EACH, Hain Daniels, Hilton, Hotel Du Vin, Murray Edwards College, Office Angels, Select Recruitment, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Teka Services, Compass Group, Nat West Enterprise, Office Angels and St Catherine’s College. Hosts are welcome to attend with their guests. For more information, please email Dawn.Bere@dwp.gov.uk

Additionally, if guests have questions around seeking a job, please email Dawn.Bere@dwp.gov.uk who will be able to help advise on matters such as setting up a national insurance number, obtaining proof of right to work and signing up for Universal Credit. Dawn can assist with these elements and can have translation services on standby.

Rotary Club of Royston

The Rotary club of Royston is committed to helping Ukrainian refugees feel welcome in the community and to facilitate various social events. A new monthly café will be starting soon, to provide morning coffee and cakes to local Ukrainian families. Once a month local Ukrainian families can meet and spend time getting to know each other. The first venue will be The Chequers at Barley and will run from 10am -12noon at a date to be confirmed. The pub has a large garden where children can relax and play. The Royston Rotary Club may be able to provide free transport to some families needing assistance. Hosts are also welcome. If guests (and hosts) would like to attend, please contact ukraine@roystonrotary.com for more information and to register your interest.

Reminder about Informal in-person get together for hosts next Tuesday (12 July) from 6pm to 8pm in Cambourne

Following on from our informal event for Ukrainian Guests on Tuesday 28 June, we would remind you that we are also hosting a session for Ukrainian hosts from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday next week (12 July) at South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, CB23 6EA. This is a free drop-in event for Ukrainian hosts to network, have a bite to eat and find out more about the support (for both hosts and guests) that is available locally. We are asking hosts to register on Eventbrite, including indicating the number of people who will be coming as part of your group. This will help us to plan for the event. However, if you do not register in advance but circumstances change so that you are able to make it, you can still come along on the day.

Tags: Refugees, Support, Support for Ukraine, Ukraine