Cornwall Stands with Ukraine
In Cornwall we will do what we can to support people escaping the war in Ukraine. In addition, we want to reach out to Ukrainian residents currently living in Cornwall, and anyone with friends and families affected by, or concerned about, events in Ukraine.
The Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme (also called the Ukraine Sponsorship scheme)
Our first priority is to advise and support those residents who have applied to be a sponsor and provide a home through the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Once sponsors have entered details of the people they are sponsoring into the governments portal, we get directly notified and we will make direct contact with you.
In line with government guidance we will work with refugee sponsors to;
- Complete safeguarding checks, initially we are seeking a basic DBS for every adult in the sponsors household
- Check the appropriateness of homes, initially through the completion of a form and photographic evidence
The Government has said completion of DBS and safety checks will not hold up the processing of a visa.
Once satisfactory information is sent to the Council we will make approvals in the governments data base usually within 24 hours.
In due course, we will be making home visits and collecting evidence for enhanced DBS checks where needed. This will take place after visas have been issued.
Cllr Linda Taylor, leader of Cornwall Council, has said:
“We are working around the clock to provide support and advice to all our sponsors in Cornwall so we can get the Ukrainian refugee families here as quickly as possible. “We are dealing with a complex and fast moving and changing situation and we are expediting exceptional cases. Please be patient so we can ensure necessary safety checks are carried out to allow the families to come here.”Apply to be a sponsor or find out more about the scheme
British Red Cross Maps team have created a map showing the number of visas issued by Local Authority, as well as locations of branches of Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain.
View the British Red Cross visa map
Ukraine Family Scheme
The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK.
It is free to apply, you will be able to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.
If you need any assistance, please call the 24/7 free helpline +44 808 164 8810 (0808 164 8810 if you’re in the UK).
If you cannot contact UK 0808 numbers, please use +44 (0)175 390 7510.
Find out more about the Ukraine Family Scheme
Information and support for Ukrainian families and their relatives
If you are a resident with friends and family in Ukraine and need information or support about what is happening you can contact the Ukrainian Embassy in London:
- Address: 60 Holland Park, London W11 3SJ United Kingdom
- Telephone: 020 7727 6312
- Email: emb_gb@mfa.gov.ua
- Website: uk.mfa.gov.ua
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukraine.in.uk/
- Twitter: twitter.com/UkrEmbLondon
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/embassy-of-ukraine-in-the-uk
Welcome guides
The welcome guide includes information on what Ukrainians need to know in the first few days, getting used to life in the UK including;
- how to find a home
- access essential public services
- healthcare
- find work
- childcare
- education services
It also includes specific information for those arriving on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Travel advice
For official information on travel advice to and from Ukraine visit GOV.UK.
Free travel for Ukrainians
The UK Rail Delivery Group are offering free travel to Ukrainian nationals travelling to the UK on National Rail services, to help them get to a safe place.
Find out more on the National Rail website
Barnardo’s Ukrainian Support Helpline
The helpline is available to anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. It is staffed by English, Ukrainian and Russian speakers, to offer support to children and families arriving in the UK from Ukraine.
Full details, including opening hours and the phone number, are available on Barnardo’s webpage for Ukrainian Support Helpline.
Find out more on the Barnados website
For parents of young children or young people
With the situation developing in Ukraine, your children may be asking questions that you are unsure how to answer.
- If you have a child in a Cornwall school who is affected by the crisis, please talk to your child’s teachers about any concerns you have and the support you would like the school to provide
- Newsround, from the BBC’s CBBC channel, has trusted videos and reports about the war in Ukraine that have been produced specifically for children
- Newsround also has a section for children offering advice if they are upset by the news
- Place2Be’s educational psychologists have also shared advice about how to discuss war and conflict with children and young people – and how you can best support them at this difficult and worrying time
School admissions
Find out about admissions information for refugees on our school admissions page.
NHS Services
The NHS have produced some guides to help refugees access their services. They are available below in three languages:
Other ways to support
Cornwall Refugee Resource Network
Community sponsorship "is a refugee resettlement programme with local people at its heart", using the power and unity of local communities to create safe routes for refugees to reach the UK. There are 6 established community sponsorship groups in Cornwall:
Find out more on Cornwall Refugee Resource Network (CRRN)
Volunteer Cornwall
Cornwall Council is working with Volunteer Cornwall to help support the significant offers of voluntary help coming forward from our communities.
Volunteer Cornwall will also be working with the host households to assist people to make connections, volunteer and participate in the community in which they now reside.
If you would like to get involved please call 01872 266988.
Donations
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)
DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities, raising funds to quickly and effectively respond to overseas disasters.
The DEC said the message from aid workers is;
“money was needed rather than specific donated items, which are often not necessarily what people require and are difficult to transport”
To donate directly to the Ukrainian government use the website withukraine.org, run by the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK.
Make a donation to the Ukrainian Government
To make a donation towards the UN’s humanitarian work in Ukraine, please visit Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund UN Crisis Relief.
Donate to the Humanitarian Fund
There are many other charities collecting donations, both financial and supplies such as food and clothing – the Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator have urged the public to ‘give safely’ to registered charities helping and supporting those affected by the invasion of Ukraine.
Find out more about giving safely
What is Cornwall Council doing?
Individually, Cornwall Council has taken steps to cut Russian links, including:
- assuring our gas contracts do not have any direct links with Russia
- taking immediate steps to ensure our pension fund investments do not include Russian assets
Need help?
Most issues can be resolved online, it's the quickest and most convenient way to get help.
- Help for Ukraine
- If you email us for information please ensure you allow emails from the email address below or ensure to check your junk mail folders for a response.
- ResettlementAndMigration@cornwall.gov.uk
