Ukraine Information

Wales Ukraine Schemes Coordinator

Role

The WSMP Ukraine Schemes Coordinator leads on the Wales-wide direction of the UK Government Ukraine Sponsorship  , Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Extension Scheme. The WSMP Ukraine Coordinator acts as a single point of contact for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Home Office, councils, voluntary sector, and other partners in Wales. This role also supports Welsh Government in the delivery of their Super Sponsor Scheme.

Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: Homes for Ukraine

Overview

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, known as Homes for Ukraine, is a UK Government scheme allowing people across the country to offer up their spare room or accommodation to host Ukrainians fleeing the war. UK citizens that sign up to the scheme are known as hosts and they agree to host their Ukrainian guests for a minimum of 6 months. For the duration of the hosting arrangement, up to 24 months, hosts are entitled to a “thank you payment” for their generosity and support.

In Wales, the ‘Thank You payment’ structure is as follows:

• If a Ukrainian citizen has been residing in UK for more than 12 months hosts are eligible for a £500 ‘Thank You payment’ from UK Government.
• If a Ukrainian citizen has been residing in UK less than 12 months hosts are eligible for a £350 ‘Thank You payment’ from UK Government, with Welsh Government contributing additional £150 to the ‘Thank You payment’.
• This was introduced to bring parity to hosts where their ‘Thank you payment’ is £500, regardless of how long Ukrainian citizens have resided in UK.

As of 1^st of August 2023, the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme has issued 167,000 visas to Ukrainian citizens, out of which 129,300 have already arrived in UK. In Wales, a total of 10,853 visas have been issued, with 6,928 citizens already arrived in the country.

Homes for Ukraine: Become a host - Offer a home in Wales to refugees from Ukraine | GOV.WALES

Homes for Ukraine: Guidance for hosts and sponsors - Homes for Ukraine: guidance for hosts and sponsors | GOV.WALES

Welsh Government Super Sponsor Scheme

Overview

In line with the ambition of Welsh Government to become the first ever ‘Nation of Sanctuary’, in April 2022, Welsh Government committed to being a “super sponsor” for Ukrainian citizens. This means that they would offer refuge and sanctuary to additional Ukrainian citizens that have not matched with an individual ‘named’ sponsor as part of the UK Government Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Welsh Government provided those arriving under the Super Sponsor scheme with accommodation, support, and care by setting up a network of ‘Welcome centres’, which served as initial accommodation for people on first arrival. After arrival and initial stay in a ‘Welcome centre’, Ukrainian citizens are expected to move-on to medium and longer-term suitable accommodation.

As of 1^st of August 2023, Welsh Government sponsored 3,180 Ukrainian citizens who have arrived in Wales. You can find more guidance and information in the links below.

Guidance

‘Move On’ Phase - Sanctuary | Super Sponsor (gov.wales)

Refusal of move-on accommodation - Sanctuary | Refusing 'Move On' Accommodation: Frequently Asked Questions (gov.wales)

Guidance for councils in Wales – Homes for Ukraine: Funding - Homes for Ukraine: funding | GOV.WALES

General guidance for councils in Wales - Homes for Ukraine: guidance for local authorities | GOV.WALES

Ukraine Family Scheme

Overview

The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join their family members already living in UK or extend their stay if they are already in the country. Unlike the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme does not feature a “Thank You payment” for people supporting their relatives with accommodation, nor does it come with additional funding for councils.

To be eligible to apply for the Ukraine Family Scheme Ukrainian citizens must meet the following criteria:

• Submit an application to join or accompany a UK-based family member.
• Hold Ukrainian citizenship or be a family member of Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme to join a UK-based immediate family member.
• The citizen has been living in Ukraine on or immediately before 1 January 2022.

Until 1^st of August 2023 a total of 69,600 visas has been issued under the Ukraine Family Scheme.

Factsheets

Home Office Immigration Factsheet - Factsheet 4 Immigration Info Ukrainian British National Family Members ENGLISH 22 SEPTEMBER 2022 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

More information on Ukraine Family Scheme Visa -

Support available in Wales.

Welsh Government has commissioned the British Red   to offer specialist post-arrival support with integration to Ukrainian citizens arriving in Wales through the Ukraine Family Scheme. The project aims to provide holistic wrap-around support for Ukrainian citizens in Wales. The British Red Cross offers the following support:

• Advice and support on rights and entitlements
• Access to housing services
• Access to health services
• Access to employment
• Financial support
• Access to education
• Support with social integration
• Support to open bank account
• Registration with GP
• School admissions
• Signposting to local activities

Support for Ukrainian Family Members arriving in Wales -

Ukraine Extension Scheme: Overview

The Ukraine Extension   allows Ukrainian citizens to stay in UK if they meet one of the following requirements: 

• The Ukrainian national had permission to be in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023 – it does not need to be for the entire period.
• Ukrainian citizen previously had permission to be in the UK and it has expired on or after 1 January 2022.

In contrast to the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and the Ukraine Family Scheme, this route does not require a UK based sponsor.

More information on Ukraine Extension Scheme - Apply to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Extension Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For more information contact: Adrian Marszalek – Ukraine Schemes Coordinator