Author: Clerk

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

1. Moving On Events
2. Support for Families with Younger Children
3. Volunteer Fair
4. Help for Victims of Abuse
5. Project Worker Opportunity
6. Bus Travel Scheme – ending March 31
7. Free Rides on BizBikes
8. 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.

Help for victims of abuse

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

February 16, 2023

Support for Ukraine community update for hosts in South Cambridgeshire, as well as District Councillors, community coordinators and parish council colleagues.

National moment of silence to mark one year since Russian invasion of Ukraine

A national one-minute silence will take place across the UK at 11am on 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

This week’s newsletter focuses on 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 would be very grateful if you could share these details with your guests and help them to think about their options. Where we have the relevant contact details, we will be emailing this information direct to guests and will also be posting out printed versions to them in English and Ukrainian. We will also be running two information events where guests can discuss their options and ask questions, detailed here:

Information events: 9 & 23 March, 2023

In person event:

Date: Thursday 9th March, 6pm – 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 in this document. The remaining time will be set aside for a chance to talk to other guests and ask questions with Council officers. The 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

Moving On

Support for Homes for Ukraine guests to move on to live more independently

The information below sets out the 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. This includes:

• Applying for social housing
• Rematching
• Renting privately
• Renting with another family
• Lodging
• Rent Deposit Scheme
• Rent in Advance
• Help with essential items
• Council tax discounts
• Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)

Private rental in South Cambridgeshire is very expensive, and residents with moderate and sometimes good incomes still require some form of support. For those on lower incomes, and for people who receive Housing Benefit, this can be even more challenging. As this is the case, we would urge Homes for Ukraine guests to consider all the possible options to ensure you have thought about your circumstances and available budget to ensure it will be affordable for you. We recommend that you try to save money during your stay with a host, as this will make finding your own accommodation easier when you are ready to do so.

The maximum amount of housing benefit you can receive for a 2-bed property in South Cambridgeshire is £782.48 per month. This level is set by the Government. However, as rent for a 2-bed home is often in the region of £1,000, this means there is a shortfall between housing benefit and market rent.

The options and support listed below aims to try to help everyone access housing that will be affordable.

Applying for social housing

Social housing is rented to a tenant at a lower monthly rent than it would be if it was privately owned. Home-Link is the choice-based lettings scheme for Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk. Every week, Home-Link advertises the available Council and Housing Association properties across the area. To be considered for one of these properties, you first need to make an application to Home-Link to have your housing need and priority assessed (this is called your housing band). You can make an application online at https://www.home-link.org.uk/choice/

If your application is approved to join the housing register, you will then be able to bid on properties within Home-Link. It is important to remember that we have a waiting list for homes, and it is often wise to also consider other options as well as making an application.

You can bid on up to three properties per week. You may only bid on properties that are located within South Cambridgeshire, as you will have a local connection to South Cambridgeshire. You will only be able to bid on properties within Cambridge City and other surrounding authorities if you have a local connection with them. Please visit the Home-Link FAQ webpage which explains local connections. There is also more information on Home-Link about the prioritisation of housing and banding.

You can also contact our Housing Advice and Homes for Ukraine Liaison teams to discuss any questions you may have. Please email HFULiaison@Scambs.gov.uk.

Rematching

If your host has indicated that they can no longer provide you with accommodation and given you notice to leave, or if there has been a relationship breakdown between a host and guest, we can help to rematch guest/s to a new host. This option is best suited to those who are not yet ready to move on to live more independently. Please note that due to the lack of additional new hosts, it is very unlikely we will be able to rematch you to a new host in the village or town where you are currently living. We will do our best to find the best match we can from the hosts we have available.

As there is such a small number of potential hosts, we will only facilitate rematches where it is absolutely necessary. If you wish to be rematched for reasons that are not detailed above, we encourage you to approach local charities and community groups. If a rematch is sourced through this method, it is vital you inform us in advance of any possible move so we can ensure the correct checks are completed on the new host.

Please contact us on HFULiaison@Scambs.gov.uk  to discuss rematching.

Renting privately

As mentioned above, renting privately in South Cambridgeshire can be very expensive. To increase your chances of both finding a property and being considered as a prospective tenant, we recommend that you register your interest with several estate agents that cover the district. This will greatly increase your chances of finding a private rental property.

Renting a property is not just about paying the rent. Please consider the other commitments that come with renting a property, such as utility bills and other expenses.

There is financial support available for those who need it to help with some of the initial costs of moving into a private rental property. This includes us paying for the first months’ rent in advance, paying the deposit, support with essential items and discounts on Council Tax.

You can find further information on these under the ‘Additional financial support’ section.

Renting with another family

Renting a property with another family will reduce the cost and make it more affordable. For people claiming benefits, there is a significant gap between Local Housing Allowance (LHA – the maximum amount of housing benefit you can receive to rent a home) and the actual cost of renting privately. We have launched a buddying scheme to help connect families (up to a maximum of 6 people) to come together to rent one property. This is achievable as between the two families there will be sufficient housing benefit to cover the rent on a far wider range of homes and there is still enough left to pay bills and live on. The property will have to be rented under a joint tenancy for this to be able to work (this means both families coming together and both responsible for paying rent).

If you are a family who would wish to be buddied with another family, please get in contact with us at HFULiaison@Scambs.gov.uk so we can try to help you.

Sharing a home may also be a better option for working families, so anyone wanting to consider this option is encouraged to get in touch.

Lodging

The current Homes for Ukraine scheme provides thank you payments for up to 2 years to hosts for opening their home to guests. There is the option for hosts to become resident landlords if they chose to set up a lodging agreement, or an alternative to this for the guest to rent a room in the property from the host at the local housing allowance rate. This will involve setting up a tenancy between the host (who will be the landlord) and guest. The Government’s website has several webpages on how to set up a lodging agreement, more details about the scheme, and further information on tenancy types. You can visit the Government’s website for more information.

Additional financial Support

Due to the high cost of private rental in this area, we have allocated money received from Government for the Homes for Ukraine scheme to help guests access rental properties. The main schemes are:

     Rent Deposit Scheme

• If you cannot afford the deposit for a private rental, we will pay this for you (up to a maximum of one month’s rent).
• This scheme will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and has qualifying criteria.
• The payment will be made directly to the landlord and/or agent.
• The deposit we pay does not have to be paid back to the Council and will be paid back to you at the end of the tenancy (if there are no deductions to your deposit).

For more information contact us on HFULiaison@Scambs.gov.uk.

     Rent in Advance

• Landlords or agents usually ask for one month’s rent in advance. If you are unable to pay this, we will pay it for you to help you secure the property.
• This scheme will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and has qualifying criteria.
• The payment will be made directly to the landlord and/or agent.

For more information contact us on HFULiaison@Scambs.gov.uk.

Help with essential items

We have created a scheme that will help guests with some of the costs of essential white goods and furniture needed to rent accommodation. An assessment will be carried out to consider the household’s income and expenditure to ascertain if a family is unable to meet the costs themselves. The maximum award per household is £2,000. The essential items we will consider funding are:

• 2-seater sofa
• 3-seater sofa
• Double bed with mattress
• Single bed with mattress
• Wardrobe
• Bedding (double and/or single), including pillows and duvet
• Cooker, including fitting
• Fridge freezer
• Under counter fridge and/or freezer
• Washing machine.

For more information contact us on HFULiaison@Scambs.gov.uk.

Other initial financial barriers to accessing rented accommodation

We can also consider other costs that might be a barrier to a guest accessing rented accommodation. This includes things such as moving costs. You can discuss these barriers and potential support with our Homes for Ukraine Team.

For more information contact us on HFULiaison@Scambs.gov.uk.

Council Tax discounts

Ukrainian guests are eligible for a discount on their Council Tax if their property is only occupied by those who have been living in the district under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Please contact our revenues team on Revenues@scambs.gov.uk to discuss this.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)

• Our Homes for Ukraine DHP fund has been set up to help Ukrainian guests who have a short-term period of hardship once they have already begun renting a home. The hardship will mean they are struggling to pay their rent.
• We had an existing Discretionary Housing Payment scheme and the details and way you apply are the same.

To qualify for this payment, you must be in receipt of Universal Credit or housing benefit, and you have a shortfall in your rent.

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 Manager
South Cambridgeshire District Council

Support for Ukraine community update for hosts in South Cambridgeshire, as well as District Councillors, community coordinators and parish council colleagues.

Contents

1. Which forms when? Clarification for Hosts
2. ESOL Classes Online – new courses
3. Creative Community Crafts Sessions
4. Reminders

Which forms when? Clarification for Hosts

As part of our work within the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, we are obliged to ask our hosts to fill in a number of forms so that we can ensure the scheme is working as intended.  We appreciate this is a chore, but it does enable us to provide the best support for both hosts and guests and ensures the correct financial help is available at the right time. Below is clarification on when to fill out our forms to keep us updated on your guests and to receive or stop payments:

Arrivals Form to inform us of your guests’ arrival:

• When your guests first arrive with you.
• If they have been absent from your property for more than 4 weeks and they return.

Additional Host Payment to opt in to receive the extra £150 host monthly payment.

Leavers Form to update us when your guests:

• Are no longer coming.
• Have vacated your property / moved elsewhere.
• Plan to be / have been absent for more than 4 weeks.

ESOL Classes Online – new courses

Please let your guests know that the WEA (Workers Educational Association) will start new ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) online evening courses via Zoom from March.

If guests are interested to join one of the new groups, they should register for one of the Skills Check meetings where friendly staff can help them find the right course and complete a few short tasks to see which is the best choice. The Skills Check meetings are on 6, 8 or 9 March. Please ask guests to register as soon as possible to secure a place:

Reference: C2229514 Date: 06/03/2023 11:00am

Reference: C2229515 Date: 08/03/2023 11:00am

Reference: C2229516 Date: 09/03/2023 9:15am

When registering, please quote the course reference either online at wea.org.uk or by ringing 0300 3033464. If you have any questions, please email cambs@wea.org.uk

Creative Community Crafts Sessions 

The Cambridge-based charity Rowan, which provides an arts centre and forest school for adults with learning disabilities, is welcoming all Ukrainian refugees to join them for a series of evenings of socialising, refreshments and opportunities to get creative.

The sessions, running over eight weeks, will start on 23 February and will continue to run on Thursdays from 18.30 to 21.00 at 40 Humberstone Road, Cambridge, CB4 1JG.

The sessions are FREE to attend. For further information and to sign-up, visit www.rowanhumberstone.co.uk or call on 01223 566027.

Reminders

 Free online support session for Hosts – February 15: Diary date – the next online hosts get-together session from the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT) is Wednesday 15 February from 19:30 – 21:00. Free tickets can be booked at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/support-for-hosts-of-ukrainian-families-online-event-tickets-528411201127

Updating contact details for guests: We would be grateful if you could remind your guests to return to us by tomorrow (10 February) the response form verifying their preferred means of contact.

Employment Survey: Please make your guests aware of our Ukrainian Employment/Skills Survey which will help us assess how we can best support guests into suitable employment.

Free weekly English classes: In partnership with A Learning Place, the Council provides free weekly English classes in Cottenham (Tuesdays 17.30), Sawston (Thursdays 16.15, 17.30 & 18.45) and Waterbeach (Wednesdays 16.30 & 17.40). Contact Amy on 07753 282967, email hello@alearningplace.co.uk or complete our short form. 

Volunteering: CCVS runs FREE in-person Volunteering Workshops for Ukrainian refugees who would like to learn how to be volunteers. The remaining sessions are today (9 February) and on 16 March, 10am-1pm, at 16-18 Arbury Court, Cambridge CB4 2JQ. For information or to register to attend, call 07840989719 or email ellie@cambridgecvs.org.uk

IMPORTANT NOTES

All hosts will receive information from us relating to DBS checks, accommodation checks, £350 monthly host and £350 one-off guest payments from the Government; plus additional ‘opt-in’ payments of £150 per month from this Council which we are paying to hosts in the district to help with extra costs such as rising energy bills. Once hosts have sponsored a guest for one year, their £350 payment from the Government will increase to £500 per month. For questions not covered in this update or on our Support for Ukraine webpages, please email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk

We continue to look for new potential hosts via our Spare Room campaign which appeals for anyone who would like to get involved to apply to re-match existing guests via the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Hosts receive up to £500 per month as a thank you payment. If you are interested in hosting, or know of someone else who may be interested, please take a look at our website for details of the support available to new hosts and text ROOM to 88802.

News previously shared here can be found on our Support for Ukraine webpage and the Ukrainian Guest information hub which we encourage you to share with your guests who should be able to switch to view in their own language.

Thank you for taking the time to read this latest update. We hope that it is useful for you and your guests, and we thank you for your continued support.

Please do look out for next week’s newsletter as we will be providing a special edition on the options and support available to guests when they are ready to think about moving on to living more independently.

Bill

Bill Handley

Lead Cabinet Member for Communities

South Cambridgeshire District Council