Dear hosts, volunteer coordinators and parish council colleagues
If this is the first time you are receiving this ‘Support for Ukraine community update’ from us as a host, please note that we send these out on a regular basis. They are issued whenever new and relevant information becomes available to hosts in South Cambridgeshire as well as to District Councillors, community coordinators and parish council colleagues. The idea is to share the latest updates that we have to support for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
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
Online forum supporting hosts with traumatised Ukrainian guests
The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice(AFT) is running some online forums for hosts to share ideas on how to help guests who are facing psychological trauma.
The virtual meetings, hosted by Family and Systemic Psychotherapists, will offer a monthly space for hosts to come and reflect on the challenges of having guests who are displaced from home, country and family, and may be traumatised. In many cases they may also experience a sense of dislocation from their own culture and tradition.
The exact content of the session will be decided on the evening by those who come but may include self-care, preparing for your guests to arrive, challenges and opportunities of hosting, accessing resources in your community, thinking about the impact of trauma and help with anonymised specific challenges.
The first session will be on Wednesday 24 August 7-9pm and hosts will need to register for free tickets. Please come prepared to share your own experiences and prepared to think with others about their dilemmas.
Warning for Ukrainian guests to guard against scams
Scammers work at all levels in our society, and no-one is immune from their illegal activities, including Ukrainian guests. One incident which has come to our attention is of two female refugees being told they would have their refugee status revoked if they didn’t each pay up £350. Please do warn your guests to be vigilant, particularly online. General information on how to spot and avoid scams is available from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Against Scams Partnership (CAPASP) which works with public, private and voluntary sector organisations to stop scams and doorstep crime across the county.
Children’s Books in Ukrainian
Cambridgeshire Libraries now has a collection of brand new children’s books in Ukrainian. Those wishing to borrow books can pop into the Cambridge Central Library and have a browse. Collections are also available at St Ives and Ely libraries.
Alternatively, guests can request books for free on a child’s library card to be delivered to their local library anywhere in Cambridgeshire and pick them up from there. You can find the locations of local libraries here Your library – Cambridgeshire County Council You can also browse the library service’s e-book selection on Libby
Help with medical costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS)
Ukrainian guests may be able to access help for medical costs via the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).
The scheme can help with:
- costs for NHS prescriptions
- NHS dental treatment
- the cost of sight tests, glass and contact lenses
- the cost of travelling to receive NHS treatment
- NHS wigs and fabric supports.
To apply for the NHS LIS, guests need to complete an HC1 form. If the application is successful, then either an HC2 certificate will be issued (for full help with health costs) or an HC3 certificate will be issued (for limited health with health costs). The certificates detail how much they will have to pay towards their health costs.
If guests have already paid for their prescriptions and later find that they are eligible for free prescriptions, they can apply for full or partial reimbursement of prescription costs depending on income. Receipts for any prescription costs must be submitted in evidence.
If they do not qualify for free prescriptions, and are resident in England, they can buy a pre-payment prescription (PPCs) from the NHS. A three or 12-month PPC covers all prescriptions for that period, no matter how many they need. Prescriptions currently cost £9.35 per item, but a PPC costs £30.25 for three months or £108.10 for 12 months. It is possible to pay in ten monthly instalments if they buy a 12-month PPC.
Looking for a local dentist
With a fall in the number of dentists practising in the UK, many patients are struggling to get dental treatment. If your guests are looking to make an appointment with a local dentist, you may find the NHS Find a Dentist site helpful.
If urgent dental treatment is required, then contact NHS 111, who will be able to direct you to a dentist for urgent care.
Patients are entitled to free NHS dental treatment if they are:-
- Under 18 years of age
- Pregnant
- Have had a baby within the last 12 months
- Are in prison or a young offender’s institution.
Free NHS dental treatment is also available to anyone who has an HC2 or HC3 certificate under the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS) – see details above on how to apply. However, guests should continue to pay for any treatment carried out until they find out they are eligible under the NHS LIS and their exemptions are confirmed.
If guests receive treatment and find out within three months of the treatment that they are entitled to receive free or reduced cost NHS dental treatment, they can claim a refund.
For more information, visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-dental-costs or email to
nhsbsa.dentalservices@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Reminder: High demand for free bicycles
The scheme to offer free bikes for Ukrainian guests via Owl Bikes (part of the Papworth Trust), Camtrust and Tag Bikes, is continuing to work well, although due to the high demand we request that you bear with us if you or your guests have applied and are still waiting to hear. If you have already applied, there is no need to contact us. We would also encourage any residents with spare bikes they no longer need to offer them to Camtrust or TAG Bikes (Owl Bikes is currently working on the stock they have in hand). Donations of unwanted helmets, spare tyres and parts would also be welcomed.
Ukrainian guests who are keen to get out and about on their bikes can join with the CTC Cambridge cycling club where experienced riders from the group will buddy up with guests to help them get to know the area’s roads. Email secretary@ctccambridge.org.uk if your guests would like to take advantage of this offer.
Support Scheme for visiting Ukrainian Postgraduate Research Students and Academics
The Ukrainian Academic Support Scheme – which has been set up to support colleagues from Ukrainian Universities and other Higher Education Institutions who are seeking refuge from the war – has now closed to ‘registration of interest’. However, the scheme hopes to reopen for ‘registration of interest’ again in the future.
The scheme is providing funding for up to 20 Postgraduate research students and academics from Ukraine, irrespective of nationality, to continue their studies and research in Cambridge for a period between 6 to 12 months. It offers financial support, accommodation and access to a range of university services. Applicants are expected to remain employed (academics) or enrolled (Postgraduate Research students) at their home institution in Ukraine.
More details can be found on the University of Cambridge website.
Reminder: Bi-lingual host, community member or guest needed
We are still looking for a bi-lingual adult who would be prepared to volunteer as a moderator for a Facebook group for young Ukrainian people aged 16 to 19. The page would offer a safe place where they can connect and provide support for one another. Anyone with a background in safeguarding, such as a doctor, teacher, or social worker, would be ideal. If you are interested, please contact us via email here.
… and finally – an Outdoor Family Gathering for Ukrainian guests
There will be an outdoor family gathering for Ukrainian guests from across Cambridgeshire in the Orchard area at Milton Country Park this Sunday 14 August, from 12noon to 4pm. Activities will include creative masterclasses for children, face painting and fun contests for all ages, plus refreshments will be available. This is a chance for Ukrainian guests to have a social get-together in wonderful summer weather. All are welcome. Directions of how to get to the park (bus, park & ride, cycle) can be found here.
Many thanks for reading this latest bulletin, which I hope will be helpful for you and your guests. We are grateful for your continued support for the Homes for Ukraine programme.
Bill
Bill Handley
Lead Cabinet Member for Communities
South Cambridgeshire District Council
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