Author: Clerk

Here is our regular ‘Support for Ukraine community update’ containing information for hosts in South Cambridgeshire, as well District Councillors, community coordinators and parish council colleagues.

Contents:

1. Contacting Guests for updated details
2. Top tips for those new to hosting
3. Free workshops for guests to learn about volunteering
4. Reminders: Employment Survey & Free weekly English classes

Contacting Guests for updated details

The Council now needs to contact guests directly about the next phase of their stay in the UK in order to ensure they can continue to access the best level of support.

Our communications on this in the first instance will go to the email addresses provided by guests as part of their visa application, which for some may be the email address of their host if this is what was given in the initial application.

We will, of course, make you aware of any communications that we send out, so that you can support your guests by directing them to check their own emails for the latest messages. 

The first of these emails was sent out yesterday (25 January) with a deadline to respond by 10 February 2023.  The email asks guests to verify their preferred means of contact by completing a response form.  We have translated the email and form into Ukrainian.  Please help your guests or complete it on their behalf if you can.

We hope any communications from us to your guests will ensure they feel supported and will supplement the help you continue to give them.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about this.

Top tips for those new to hosting

Following conversations with hosts and guests, as well as with those hosts who are attending the AFT (Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice) online get-together forums, our Ukrainian Welfare Visiting Officer has put together some helpful tips for those who are new to hosting.

1. Before your guests arrive, it is good to identify one or two people who can be part of a support team for you and your guests.  This would be to support guests with appointments, help with admin, take them out, offer a shopping trip, provide you all with a meal – whatever is needed.  This is different from introducing guests to your friends – it’s a group who are identified to guests from the beginning who are there and willing to provide additional support.  A Whatsapp group between hosts, guest and supporters can also be helpful.
2. The first two weeks with a guest coming from outside the UK can be full on.  Set aside some time for admin, or to have support people on hand to help.
3. Guests are tired when they first arrive – one thing a day is usually more than enough.
4. Check on local communication networks by visiting our website or the HAY website to see if there are any local support groups for Ukrainians. Make contact before your guests arrive to see what’s on offer.
5. When they arrive, try a normal family meal on the first day, rather than a special meal (chicken is a common choice).  This sets a manageable standard should your guests end up also cooking for you.
6. Space and open and honest communication are the things that make placements work.  Find frequent times for just being together to enable communication, but also give yourself and them permission to take space from each other.
7. Remember, you are not on your own.  In addition to other local hosts and groups, there is a whole team at the council, welfare visitors who you will see in the first month, project officers communicating with you about what’s on, and a move-on team for when your arrangement comes to an end.

Free workshops for guests to learn about volunteering

The charity CCVS (Cambridge Council for Voluntary Services) is running FREE Volunteering Workshops for Ukrainian refugees for them to learn how to become a volunteer.

Volunteering in your local community is a great way to make new friends – it can change lives, fight isolation and improve wellbeing, confidence and skills, making our communities better places to live and sometimes even leading to, or helping with, acquiring paid work.

There are four free-to-attend and in-person sessions running on 23 February, 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.

Reminders:

Employment Survey: We would be grateful if you could you 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.

Adults and young people can enrol as learners; younger children are welcome to come along (toys and activities provided). Contact Amy on 07753 282967, hello@alearningplace.co.uk or complete our short form. 

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

Newspreviously 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.

Bill
Bill Handley
Lead Cabinet Member for Communities
South Cambridgeshire District Council

Dear hosts, volunteer coordinators and parish council colleagues

Welcome to everyone, and especially to new hosts. This regular ‘Support for Ukraine community update’ contains information for hosts in South Cambridgeshire, as well District Councillors, community coordinators and parish council colleagues.Newspreviously 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. Please also check-in on the important notes at the bottom of the newsletter.

Campaign for more Hosts

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.

Can you help publicise the Spare Room campaign?

A reminder to Parish Councils, local organisations or individuals who have a small space on their roadside verge in a safe and appropriate location and are willing to help us publicise the Spare Room campaign by putting up an A2 sign (like those communities put up for village fetes).

Signs can be collected from our offices in Cambourne between the hours of 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday; there is no need to contact us first. If you need to collect signs outside of these times, then please make other arrangements by emailing to duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk  We can also supply posters for noticeboards and flyers.

Reminder to complete our Hosting Survey

On 10 January 2023, we sent an email to hosts asking you to complete an updated hosting survey so we can get an idea of how long you are able to host for. If you have not done so already, please could you complete this form as soon as possible. This survey also allows you to provide feedback to the council regarding the Homes for Ukraine scheme. If we do not receive a response, we will be in contact. If you are a host and you have not received this survey, please contact us on duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk

Employment Survey

We would be grateful if you could you make your guests aware of our Ukrainian Employment/Skills Survey which will help us assess how we can best support guests into suitable employment. Ukrainian refugees are able to work in the UK for up to three years and we are collaborating with local partners, communities, and businesses to ensure we understand the barriers they may face in finding suitable employment.

What next for young Ukrainians?

Form the Future is part of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Region of Learning and offers help to unemployed Ukrainian refugees aged 15 to 24 years old to help them figure out what to do next in education or employment. 

Examples of the activities available are:

Guests should register their interest and if you have any other questions please call Form the Future on 01223 679 876, or email tpluck@formthefuture.org.uk

Still time to participate in January’s Healthy You Festival

January’s FREE, month-long online health and wellbeing festival Healthy You Virtual Festival 2023 runs until 31 January. We are running this in conjunction with Living Sport and other local city and district councils.

All activities are free, online and suitable for beginners, including sessions such as healthy eating workshops; wellbeing during the menopause classes; taster activities ranging from Pilates and Yoga to T’ai Chi and Salsa; strength training for the over 50s; and a chance to try out the exercise referral scheme which supports people with long term health conditions to get active. Pre-register online to receive the full timetable and updates about the festival programme.

Free bikes for guests

Please remind your Ukrainian guests they can apply for free bikes via the Council’s three partner charities Owl Bikes, Camtrust and Tag Bikes via our Free Bikes for Ukrainians scheme. See the Local Travel Support section of our Ukrainian Guest Information Hub. Hosts can apply online on behalf of their guests and the Council will put the applicant in touch with their supplier so they can arrange to collect their bicycle. If bikes are no longer needed, they can be returned to the supplier. Donations of more bicycles will be gratefully received by all three charities, as well as unwanted helmets, spare tyres and parts.

Free weekly English classes

In partnership with A Learning Place, the Council provides free, weekly English classes in the following villages:

Cottenham – Tuesdays 17.30

Sawston – Thursdays 16.15, 17.30 and 18.45

Waterbeach – Wednesdays 16.30 and 17.40

Adults and young people can enrol as learners; younger children are welcome to come along (toys and activities provided). New learners are always welcome and various levels of English can be accommodated. Please contact Amy on 07753 282967, hello@alearningplace.co.uk or complete our short form. 

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

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.

Bill

Bill Handley
Lead Cabinet Member for Communities
South Cambridgeshire District Council

Support with energy costs

Government has announced details of a new energy scheme for businesses, charities, and the public sector, ahead of the current scheme ending in March. The new scheme will mean all eligible UK businesses and other non-domestic energy users will receive a discount on high energy bills until 31 March 2024.   From 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, eligible non-domestic customers who have a contract with a licensed energy supplier will see unit discounts automatically applied to their gas and electricity bills.

Customers do not need to apply for their discount, as suppliers will automatically apply the reductions. A higher level of support will be provided to businesses in sectors identified as being the most energy and trade intensive, predominately in manufacturing.    Businesses may need to register for the higher level of support and details on how to apply will be released in due course. A list of Energy and Trade Intensive Industries eligible for the additional support is available online.

Apprenticeship careers event   We are inviting South Cambridgeshire employers to join us at our Apprenticeship Careers Event taking place at Impington Village College from 10am to 2pm on Monday, 6 February. Taking place during National Apprenticeships Week, this event is running in partnership with Form the Future. The aim is to show local young people what apprenticeship opportunities are available from South Cambs businesses, large and small, as well as training providers, so they have the ability to make informed decisions about their future.   The event will: Raise awareness of the businesses and sectors offering apprenticeships in our region Help students make informed post 16 and post 18 choices Raise aspirations amongst students by providing information and guidance Enable students to meet current apprentices We will be promoting the event to around 30 schools across the area and anticipate a high level of interest. If you would like to exhibit, please contact us for further details.

Carbon reduction webinar   Reducing your carbon footprint is not only good for the planet, it is also good for business.   Lowering energy use reduces operating costs while being seen to take net zero carbon targets seriously improves your reputation with customers and suppliers.

But do you know where to start your net zero carbon journey? Have you started and aren’t sure what else you can do?   On 22 February, from 1pm to 2pm, we are hosting a practical, free-to-attend webinar, where industry experts including Rob Moorcroft, a Carbon Reduction Scientist from Tunley Engineering, and Andrew Brisbin, Allia‘s Director of Ventures, will explain what you need to consider when reviewing your carbon footprint, the benefits to your business of reducing it and what practical support is available to help your business on its journey towards net zero.

Register for free now

The Low Carbon Business Support programme   The Low Carbon Business Support Programme is open to all businesses, no matter where they are on their low carbon journey, offering fully funded support and guidance to help reduce energy use and costs and prepare for a low carbon future. If you’d like to know more about how it can help your business, the progamme runs until February 2023.

Supply chain support UK Centric Supply Chains is a fully-funded European project available to businesses within South Cambs. If your business is in the engineering, manufacturing, food and drink processing or automotive supply chain sectors, or is experiencing supply chain difficulties, take a look at their online diagnostic tool. Alternatively email Business Engagement Manager Alan Todd to arrange a one-to-one discussion. To hear how they could help your business watch this video about Synergy Grill, a Cambridgeshire business that they have recently assisted. The project closes at the end of June so if you have any concerns about your supply chain, please contact them as soon as possible.

Sustainable food directory   Are you a South Cambs food business who prides themselves on their sustainable, climate-friendly practices? Why not sign up to be on Cambridge Sustainable Food’s directory. That way, people looking for a business like yours can easily find you

Help to Grow: Digital – Last chance to apply   Businesses have only a few weeks left to apply for the Help to Grow: Digital scheme, following Government’s decision to close the programme. The Help to Grow: Digital programme was designed to give SMEs free and impartial advice on how technology can help their business, as well as vouchers worth up to £5,000 to cover up to 50% of the costs of buying pre-approved software. Government continues to offer other schemes to support small businesses, such as Help to Grow: Management and the Government-backed British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans. The programme will close to new business applications on 2 February 2023.

Domestic abuse awareness webinar Research shows that 40% of domestic abuse victims have been prevented from getting to work by their abuser and 75% of female victims are targeted in their workplace. For some survivors, work may be the only place they can escape their abuser and have the opportunity to contact support organisations. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership invites businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to join a free online workshop about the responsibilities that employers have under the Domestic Abuse Act. Hosted by Sharon Livermore, a survivor of domestic abuse who uses her personal experience to create a culture of openness and change within businesses, this webinar will explain how to recognise signs of domestic abuse in the workplace, how it impacts on businesses and how to start a conversation with employees and colleagues.

Register for free

Domestic abuse support posters   We have a range of campaign posters with contact details for support charities which are available to businesses to display – for example on the back of toilet doors. The posters cover a range of issues including domestic violence, coercive control, homophobic abuse and child on parent violence.

They signpost to support for those who may be causing abuse, as well as those who may be experiencing abuse. Contact OpenForBusiness@scambs.gov.uk in confidentiality to request a set. If you feel that someone is at immediate risk of harm or neglect then please contact the police on 999.

Health and safety guidance

Preventing work related stress   Stress, anxiety and depression is the biggest cause of work-related illness in Great Britain and numbers keep rising. According to statistics from the Labour Force Survey, 914,000 workers suffered in 2021/22. 17 million working days were lost due to stress in this period.

HSE’s stress website has plenty of advice and includes examples of stress risk assessments tailored to different business sizes, as well as case studies and much more. The stress talking toolkit shows how line managers can have simple, practical conversations with employees to help prevent stress at work. HSE’s Working Minds campaign aims to prevent work-related stress and encourage good mental health. We are planning a series of webinars to help small business owners manage their mental health and improve their wellbeing and resilience through trying times. Please keep checking this newsletter, our website and social media accounts for details over the coming months.   Correct use of display screen equipment   All employers must protect workers from the health risks of working with display screen equipment (DSE). Incorrect use of DSE or poorly designed workstations or work environments can lead to pain in necks, shoulders, backs, arms, wrists and hands, as well as fatigue and eye strain. HSE guidance covers a range of topics including: workstations and assessments work routine and breaks eyesight testing   There are also accessible resources including a DSE workstation checklist and practical tips on maintaining a good posture. In addition, there is guidance on what employers and workers need to know about working with DSE from home.   Working safely at heights   Falls from height were the cause of most work-related fatalities in Britain during 2021/22. The most recent annual figures revealed that 29 workers were killed in falls from heights last year. Make sure you take the necessary precautions: the HSE’s working at height website has guidance on how you can protect employees. The site also has a range of useful information and sources of advice for employers. They include key messages to follow before working at height and some common myths. There are also useful resources available, including relevant publications which are free to download.

Local business networking events

Future Leaders Forum   The Smart Manufacturing Alliance is developing a network for the next generation of leaders in the sector and invites local manufacturing businesses to attend their inaugural event for this community. Taking place at the North Cambridgeshire Training Centre (NCTC) on 24 January, 3.00pm to 5.00pm, the Future Leaders Forum will be delivered with NCTC, Metalcraft and MAKE UK.

Speed Networking Brunch Take part in Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce’s popular speed networking event on 10 February, from 9.30am to 11.30am at Novotel Cambridge North. There isn’t a moment to spare as you move around the room with just 60 seconds to highlight your company’s unique selling points. Attendees will also hear from Hayley Webb from Maggie’s Cambridge, the Chamber Charity of the Year, and Saiman Miah from Mott MacDonald. Tickets cost £10.00 plus VAT. All ticket income will be donated to Maggie’s Cambridge.

FSB awards   The deadline to apply to enter the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards ends soon. The awards celebrate the successes, achievements and resilience of small businesses and the self-employed across the UK.   Entering the awards can bring enormous benefits to your business. Even if your business doesn’t win the top prize, you can gain insights, information and ideas that you can build into your own business. The deadline to apply is 26 January and it is free to enter.

How do you think we are doing?   We want to know what local businesses think of the Business Support and Development Team’s service. If you’ve received any kind of support from our team, please let us know how we did. Perhaps you got help to apply for grant funding or attended one of our popular webinars.

It should take around 5 minutes to fill in this short online survey and tell us what you think we are getting right and where we need to improve. We really value your feedback.

Dear hosts, volunteer coordinators and parish council colleagues

Welcome to everyone, and especially to new hosts. This regular ‘Support for Ukraine community update’ contains information for hosts in South Cambridgeshire, as well District Councillors, community coordinators and parish council colleagues.Newspreviously 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. Please also check-in on the important notes at the bottom of the newsletter.

Changes to ‘Thank you’ payments following Government clarification

Over recent months, the Government has provided further clarification on the thank you payments we make to sponsors on their behalf.

The monthly thank you payment is payable to sponsors where their guest/s has/have lived with them for at least 50% of the month. For ease, we will be basing this on 14 days. We wanted to highlight this to hosts as, earlier in the scheme and before further clarification was provided, we had taken a pragmatic view to pay on a pro rata basis when the guest(s) arrive or depart during a calendar month. As the funding which underpins the thank you payments is provided in line with the Government rules, following these clarifications there is not the flexibility for us to make local decisions.

A second recent clarification means that where a guest/s is/are absent from your property for 4 weeks or more, we must pause the thank you payment. Please inform the Council by completing the leavers form to tell us about their time away so we can adjust the payments as necessary. This is the same form for you complete when your guests leave at the end of their stay and do not plan to return.  

The Council’s additional £150 payment, which we have committed to provide for the first 12 months of hosting to recognise the increasing cost of living, is still available. If you have not already opted in, you can do so by completing the form.

Campaign for more Hosts

We are still looking 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 information and for details of the support available to new hosts. Anyone who can offer help simply needs to text ROOM to 88802.

Please Note: If any Parish Councils, local organisations or individuals have a small space on their roadside verge in a safe and appropriate location and are willing to put up a sign (like those communities put up for village fetes) giving details of our Spare Room campaign, they can be collected from our offices in Cambourne. The A2 signs have a stake attached for pushing into the ground. There is no need to contact us first and the signs can be collected any time between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday. If you would like to support us but would need to collect signs outside of these times, then please email us on duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk and we will make arrangements with you. We can also supply posters for noticeboards and fliers. Thank you for your support in aiding us to spread the word to help to find accommodation for all our Ukrainian guests.

Returning Guests

If your guests originally left your property but are now wishing to return to you, then please let us know. Notify us on HFULiaison@scambs.gov.uk and complete our arrivals form, which can be found here, once your guest/s have arrived.

Hosting Survey

The Council needs to ensure that we have an up-to-date and accurate log of our hosts’ intentions so we can plan our future support for Ukrainian guests accordingly, and this week all hosts should have received an email from us which includes an online survey. The purpose of this survey is so we can understand the likely duration of your hosting agreement and to provide you with a chance to give us some feedback. We appreciate that hosts have now completed several online surveys for us, but these are vital to us in managing this complex project. We would be grateful if you could complete this survey as soon as possible after you receive it.

Employment Survey

Please could you make your guests aware of our Ukrainian Employment/Skills Survey which will help us assess how we can best support guests into suitable employment. Ukrainian refugees are able to work in the UK for up to three years and we are collaborating with local partners, communities, and businesses to ensure we understand the barriers they may face in finding suitable employment.

Online meeting place for young Ukrainians

The Council recently established a Facebook Group for Young Ukrainian guests aged 13-19, however the numbers of young people joining are still quite low.

We are actively exploring the need for a potential WhatsApp Group for the same age group, a place where young people may meet, develop friendships and share information. A Ukrainian Adult would moderate this, making it a safe place.

Please could you encourage any Ukrainian parents staying with you to fill out the form to let us know what they think about it and whether or not their child would be interested in joining and using such a group.

Drama classes for young Ukrainian Guests

Free drama sessions for Ukrainian guest children and young adults aged 9-15 have now started at Cottenham Community Centre.

Running from 3.45-5.15pm, the first session was held last Thursday. The next sessions are scheduled at the same time for Thursdays 19 January and 2 February, with further fortnightly dates be confirmed.

The sessions start off with a fun physical warm-up as a group, followed by a variety of drama activities and games, ranging from word games and facial expressions, to splitting up into different groups or pairs and acting out scenes in a variety of comical or serious situations.

The group is led by Sheila Gosling, a Drama Worker from Cottenham with years of experience with groups of all ages and abilities, and will continue to meet every other week, encouraging different ways of communication, entertainment, and allowing hidden talents to shine. For more information email Sheeba3434@hotmail.com

Online forum for hosts – 18 January

The next online session from the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT) – virtual meetings where all current hosts and hosts-to-be can meet with others in their position to share the experiences and challenges of hosting – takes place on 18 January.

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, the challenges and opportunities of hosting, accessing resources in your community, thinking about the impact of trauma on guests who are displaced from home, country and family, and helping with anonymised specific challenges. Sessions are free but hosts will need to register for tickets here

New Year, New You – join in January’s Healthy You Festival

Don’t forget to dip into January’s FREE, month-long online health and wellbeing festival Healthy You Virtual Festival 2023 which still has two and a half weeks to run until 31 January.

We are running this in conjunction with Living Sport and other local city and district councils. All activities are free, online and suitable for beginners, including sessions such as healthy eating workshops; wellbeing during the menopause classes; taster activities ranging from Pilates and Yoga to T’ai Chi and Salsa; strength training for the over 50s; and a chance to try out the exercise referral scheme which supports people with long term health conditions to get active. Pre-register online to receive the full timetable and updates about the festival programme.

Free weekly English classes

In partnership with A Learning Place, the Council is providing free, weekly English classes in the following villages:

Cottenham – Tuesdays 17.30

Sawston – Thursdays 16.15, 17.30 and 18.45

Waterbeach – Wednesdays 16.30 and 17.40

 Adults and young people can enrol as learners; younger children are welcome to come along (toys and activities provided). New learners are always welcome and various levels of English can be accommodated. Please contact Amy on 07753 282967, hello@alearningplace.co.uk or complete our short form: www.bit.ly/ALP-English-classes. 

Other English Courses

New in-person ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses are also available from the WEA (Workers Educational Association) starting this month. Guests can find out which courses are best for them at an ESOL Skills Check session in-person tomorrow (13 January) at St Andrew’s Street Baptist Church, 40-43 St Andrew’s St, Cambridge, CB2 3AR from 12pm to 3pm. Or they can register online by visiting www.wea.org.uk.

Classes will run at the following times:

The WEA is also running two online evening courses. Both courses are now fully subscribed but guests can still add their names to waiting lists to be notified if places become available. See the following links:

Professional Development, Preparation for work: ESOL Skills Check for Evening Classes (Online) (C2229456) (wea.org.uk)

Professional Development, Preparation for work: ESOL Skills Check for Evening Classes (Online) (C2229446) (wea.org.uk)

UK Driving Courses for Guests

Guests who want to drive in the UK still have time to apply for the UK Driving Theory for ESOL Learners coursewhich is designed to help them pass the UK driving theory test or, if they already have a licence, to help them understand the rules of driving in the UK. It will run from 16 January to 13 March, 2023, 12pm to 2pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. To enrol for free, quote the course reference C2229100 either online at wea.org.uk or by ringing 0300 3033464. Citizenship: UK Driving Theory for ESOL Learners (C2229100) (wea.org.uk)

Free course on Family Budgeting

An online Family Budgeting course is being delivered in Ukrainian for guest families who would like help in working out their monthly budget and improving their ability to plan ahead financially.

The free monthly course is being delivered by Runway Training and is commissioned by the Combined Authority for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to deliver free numeracy skills courses. It will cover situations like understanding how to plan each month, how to compare the value of supermarket deals and improving your confidence with numbers. The courses are online but also at some local venues. All learners completing the course will receive a £25 shopping voucher. Email to emmapyrkos@runwaytraining.co.uk or call 01732 402 402.

The authentic taste of Ukraine

This Saturday (14 January), a team of enthusiastic volunteer Ukrainian chefs will be offering a taste of delicious food from their country to welcome in the New Year in their homeland. The Malanka Fest, organised by Stanislaw Makarchuk, co-founder of Cambridge4Ukraine, is taking place in central Cambridge on the Ukrainian New Year’s Day, as held in accordance with the Julian calendar.  

The delicious offerings will include Ukraine Borscht (a rich soup made using beetroot to give a distinctive red colour), holubtsi (cabbage rolls stuffed with mince and rice), varenyky (dumplings with sweet and savoury fillings) and rogalyky (pastries) and deruny (potato pancake). The event will also include activities such as clay modelling, master classes in dumpling making and a musical surprise.

Malanka Fest will take place at Downing Place URC, Cambridge CB2 3EL (opposite the side entrance to John Lewis) from 12 noon to 4pm. Free entry. Cash purchases only.

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

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.

I would also like to take this opportunity to send our very best wishes to all our Ukrainian guests and their families who will celebrate the start of a New Year on Saturday in accordance with their culture – З Новим роком вас!

Bill

Bill Handley

Lead Cabinet Member for Communities

South Cambridgeshire District Council