National moment of silence tomorrow to mark one year since Russian invasion of Ukraine
A national one-minute silence will take place across the UK at 11am tomorrow (Friday 24 February), marking a year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. South Cambridgeshire District Council invites you to join with us in this moment of reflection to pay tribute to the courage of the Ukrainian people. For more information please see: National moment of silence to mark one year of Russian invasion of Ukraine – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Contents
- Moving On Events
- Support for Families with Younger Children
- Volunteer Fair
- Help for Victims of Abuse
- Project Worker Opportunity
- Bus Travel Scheme – ending March 31
- Free Rides on BizBikes
- History of the Ukrainian Language
Moving On Information events: 9 & 23 March, 2023
In last week’s newsletter, we gave you details of options available to all Homes for Ukraine guests when they are ready to consider Moving On to live more independently, or if their host has asked them to leave. We asked if you could share these details with your guests, and we also emailed guests direct. We are also holding two information events in March where guests can discuss their options and ask questions.
In person event:
Date: Thursday 9 March, 6pm to 7.30pm
Venue: Henry Morris Hall at Sawston Village College, New Road Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3BP
There will be short presentations in Ukrainian and English which will detail the Moving On options available. The remaining time will be set aside for a chance to talk to other guests and ask questions with Council officers. This event is principally for guests but hosts and relevant organisations are also welcome to attend.
We are planning to provide some snacks and refreshments. To help us cater for the right number of people, we would encourage you to complete the registration form if possible. Visit https://bit.ly/HomesforUkraine-MovingOnOptions
Online event:
Date: Thursday 23 March. Time: 6pm to 7.30pm
Venue: Zoom link to join (no need to book, just log on) –
https://bit.ly/HomesForUkraine-MovingOnOptionsVirtualEvent
Support for families with younger children
Leaflets in English and Ukrainian are available to support families from Ukraine with younger children to understand more about their childcare choices in Cambridgeshire.
In England, early years care and education is not compulsory and the leaflet explains the options available, from day nurseries to childminders, breakfast clubs, after school clubs and school holiday play schemes. Early years education follows a play-based approach and children spend their time becoming involved in lots of different play activities inside and outside. All early years provision follows government guidance which includes regulations about things like staff numbers and qualifications, how to keep children safe and the curriculum that is followed.
If your guests have children of this age, then we would be grateful if you could please share the leaflet with them.
Volunteer Fair
If you or your guests have been considering volunteering, are already a volunteer and would like to do more, or want to try something different but don’t know how to go about it, the charity CCVS (Cambridge Council for Voluntary Services) has an online Volunteer Fair on 7 March.
You can attend the whole session or join in for a short time to hear from some fantastic local voluntary organisations which will be giving short presentations about the volunteering they currently have on offer. You will also have a chance to ask questions.
The groups involved all work to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities and support the most vulnerable. They offer a mixture of face to face, online and virtual volunteering opportunities. Some offer training and require regular commitment, others are more flexible.
Booking is essential to get the online joining link.
Organisations presenting will include:
FoodCycle CambridgeEACH Help at Home ServiceStudent Community ActionCUH Patient and Public Involvement PanelDISHCambridge Rape Crisis CentreAge UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Healthwatch Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
CCVS is also running FREE Volunteering Workshops for Ukrainian refugees for them to learn how to become a volunteer. There are four free-to-attend and in-person sessions running today (23 February), and on 2 March, 9 March and 16 March, from 10am to 1pm, at 16-18 Arbury Court, Cambridge CB4 2JQ. For further information or to register to attend, call 07840989719 or email ellie@cambridgecvs.org.uk Following the sessions, attendees will be offered 1:1 support to find and apply to the right volunteering opportunities.
Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre has translated its Rape Crisis Self-Help Guide for survivors into Ukrainian. The Centre offers free specialist support for women and girls across Cambridgeshire who have been subjected to rape and sexual violence, no matter when the abuse happened.
Other organisations which can help those affected by sexual abuse or sexual violence are:
- Men’s Advice Line – helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.
- Survivors UK – specialist service for male victims aged 13+ who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives.
- Galop – which has recently launched the UK’s first ever dedicated helpline to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people (LGBT+) victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
- Childline – a free service for children and young people whenever they need support or advice.
- Choices Counselling – for adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
Project Worker opportunity
The Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum (CECF) has been awarded a grant by the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (CCF) to run a project to support Ukrainian refugees. To help it deliver this project, it is recruiting a Project Worker on a 6-month part-time contract and would welcome applications from those of Ukrainian background. The successful applicant will provide advice and support to Ukrainians in Cambridge with a range of issues including accommodation, education and health, as well as access to immigration advice, ESOL, welfare benefits, information about the job market and volunteering opportunities. Closing date for applications is 5 March 2023.
Bus Travel Scheme – ending March 31
Previously when Ukrainian guests have arrived in South Cambridgeshire, we have been able to provide them with an initial welcome offer of free tickets for ten days of bus travel. This welcome offer will now come to an end at the end of March. We’d like to thank Stagecoach for working in partnership with local councils to provide the free tickets during the initial phase of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Free Rides on Bizbikes
Cambridge Electric Transport operates its Bizbike Community E-bike Services in several South Cambridgeshire communities and is offering free rides to Ukrainian refugees. The service is available in the towns and villages of Northstowe, Longstanton (at Park&Ride), Teversham, The Abingtons and Hardwick. Ukrainians wanting to use the service should email info@bizbike.club indicating their refugee status and they will be sent full instructions and registered for free rides.
History of the Ukrainian Language
The Slavonic Section of the University of Cambridge is hosting a lecture this evening on the history of the Ukrainian language by Professor Michael Moser (University of Vienna) titled ‘Revisiting the History of the Ukrainian Language’.
When: 23 February 2023, 17:30
Where: Knox Shaw Room, Sidney Sussex College
Attendees do not need to book a place in advance
Part of the Rethinking Slavonic Studies Lecture Series, the lecture will examine the history of the Ukrainian language, looking deep into its medieval roots. Professor Michael Moser is a professor of Slavic linguistics at the Institute for Slavic Studies of the University of Vienna, the Ukrainian Free University in Munich, and the Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest; and author of ‘New Contributions to the History of the Ukrainian Language’.
Thank you in advance for your help in communicating this important information to your guests, and for your continued support.
Gareth Bell
Communications and Communities Service ManagerSouth Cambridgeshire District Council