Support for Ukranians

There are two different schemes running alongside each other. The Family scheme involves Ukrainians and their immediate family members applying to stay with family who are already living in the UK. The council is not directly involved with providing welfare support for people entering the UK under this scheme, but our Stronger Communities Team can help answer questions at communities@southampton.gov.uk.

The Homes for Ukraine scheme is a sponsorship scheme which allows volunteers in the UK to offer accommodation to Ukrainians and their immediate family members.

More information on this scheme is available at Homes for Ukraine scheme FAQs. The council will be administering the optional £350 monthly 'thank you' payments to the sponsor households and will be able to offer some support to Ukrainians who come to Southampton on this scheme. The level and type of support offered will depend on the needs of people arriving. Where required, this will include helping to find school places, linking people with support for their health and other needs, enabling people to access English language courses, support to access the welfare and benefits system, and support to access employment opportunities.

Registered host households in the city are already being contacted directly by the council and will be given a direct email address to use when contacting us. The Government has also published a guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK.

Southampton City Council is not involved in the assessment or support of registered sponsors outside of the city and does not have access to information about them. Queries about non-Southampton sponsor arrangements should be directed to the local authority where the sponsor has been registered.

Each guest residing in Southampton will have a welfare visit conducted by Citizens Advice Southampton, or City Life Education or Action for Refugees (CLEAR). This is to provide an outreach service and ensure welfare and safeguarding issues are identified and responded to appropriately. Colleagues will offer advice and support with applying for benefits and signposting to other agencies. They will also arrange monthly review meetings to cover ongoing wraparound/integration support. We are sharing certain information about guests, including names, dates of birth and addresses, with Citizens Advice Southampton under our agreement to provide this service. Sponsors and guests have been informed that this data will be shared.

There is currently no specific support available from the Government for people who enter under this scheme.

CLEAR and EU Welcome are able to offer advice, guidance and signposting to Ukrainians and their family members who are now in the city. This advice includes topics such as immigration status, benefits and housing. People can contact them by calling 023 8022 1111 or request a call back via the CLEAR Advice form.

They are unable to offer advice to those seeking to bring family members from Ukraine to the UK.

No. Council Tax discounts will not be affected if you sponsor and host Ukrainian guests in your home. The £350 ‘thank you’ payment will not affect any Council Tax discounts.

Sponsors will undergo initial criminal records checks before any visa is issued by the Home Office. In addition to this, the council will undertake Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for all people aged 16 and over in the sponsor household.

Councils have a statutory duty to promote the safety and welfare of all adults and children. Southampton City Council has developed data sharing agreements with Hampshire Constabulary, the NHS and Citizens Advice Southampton to ensure guests and their families are provided with relevant support.  

Councils are expected to remain vigilant to safeguarding risks and where concerns arise use existing guidance and frameworks to take appropriate action. This includes sharing information with the other council departments to complete any safeguarding checks, in order to protect people from harm and provide the right support to them when necessary.

Citizens Advice Southampton will visit guests once they have arrived in their accommodation to meet with them and their sponsor to carry out an initial welfare check and provide information about ongoing support.

The Government is conducting standard security checks on Ukrainians before they are issued with a visa.

The Government has issued information for businesses who would like to offer employment opportunities. See Offering work to people who have come to the UK from Ukraine.

Local businesses that would like to offer employment should email DWHI.EmployerOfferInbox@dwp.gov.uk clearly stating that they would like to offer employment to Ukrainians in their email.

There are a number of ways in which people can help:

You can make a financial donation to the following organisations such as British Red Cross, UNICEF or Disasters Emergency Committee.

Southampton Ukrainian Community Support Group meets on Saturdays in Woolston. For more information, please visit the group’s website.

Further information on how you can help and how to donate safely is published on the Government’s website.

If you are a local group that would like to offer support or help, please email communities@southampton.gov.uk.