We Stand Together
Our wonderful Northern Devon community is stepping up with great care and compassion to open homes and communities at this time of desperate need.
We hope this website can be a ‘one stop’ resource, to support the amazing local response of individuals and groups to the growing refugee crisis created by the Russian invasion. The site is hosted by The Pickwell Foundation alongside the volunteer community groups we have supported. Together, we have been helping refugees to resettle in Northern Devon for the last 5 years through Community Sponsorship.
The aim of this website is to provide information and resources to help you if you are planning on becoming a sponsor (having someone stay in a property you own), or a member of a support group (the wrap-around care for the sponsor and individual/family), for a Ukrainian guest/s. It outlines the main areas of support that, from our experience, those that are resettling are likely to need. It gives questions to consider, signposts to resources and advice from other volunteers with experience.
Government extends stay for Ukrainians in the UK.
Government provides certainty and stability for Ukrainians, with visa holders now eligible to stay for an additional 18 months. From early 2025, all those in the UK under one of the Ukraine visa schemes will be able to apply to stay here for an additional 18 months and continue to have the same rights to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education throughout their stay. This will mean that those who came on the first visas under one of the Ukraine visa schemes could now stay in the UK until September 2026.
UK government will extend the ‘thank you’ payment into a third year.
We have been informed that the government will extend the thank you payment into a third year. The local authorities have advised us that the amount of your thank you payment will remain unchanged. ase keep checking our social media for updates and published changes.
In January 2023 the UK Government published updated guidance for Sponsors. The full Homes for Ukraine scheme guide , including eligibility criteria, how to apply as a sponsor and advice about how to make your guests welcome in the UK. Can be found here. Our website is currently being updated to reflect this new guidance. Please keep checking our social media for updates and published changes.
One of our Ukrainian caseworkers Iryna shared a great website - The MINDY Foundation for Ukrainian guests to access free, short and practical daily online trauma and resilience support sessions with experienced trauma educators and therapists from around the world.
Trauma education
Practical tools and techniques
Space to connect with other Ukrainians
Ask the experts
You can also make donations to our Ukrainian fund via our Just Giving Page (click the button below), this will be used to support our guests here in Northern Devon in urgent and emergency situations.
All enquires can be sent to info@northdevonwithukraine.co.uk