Support for Ukraine – Community update

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

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

Contents

Which forms when? Clarification for Hosts
ESOL Classes Online – new courses
Creative Community Crafts Sessions
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 Â£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, Â£350 monthly host and Â£350 one-off guest payments from the Government; plus additional ‘opt-in’ payments of Â£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 Â£350 payment from the Government will increase to Â£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 Â£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

Support for Ukraine community update

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:

Contacting Guests for updated details
Top tips for those new to hosting
Free workshops for guests to learn about volunteering
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.

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.
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.
Guests are tired when they first arrive – one thing a day is usually more than enough.
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.
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.
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.
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

Update for those supporting refugees from Ukraine – 19 January 2023

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

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

A double light switch with a metallic finish

Support for Ukraine Community Update

Dear hosts, volunteer coordinators and parish council colleagues

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

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

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

Scam Phone Call – Council Tax Arrears

This was shared by a Peterborough resident in order to protect others – It’s the transcript of a phone call that her Mother received last week:

“You are in debt £1,998 on your Council Tax bill. This issue will be taken to court and you will get house arrested. If you don’t want to resolve this debt in court, you must pay for a solicitor. I can help taking you to the solicitor to solve this Council Tax case. If you don’t get the solicitor or pay the £1,998 debt now, you can get house arrested.”

Luckily, the lady’s daughter was there at the time and when she noticed that her Mother was feeling panicked and confused by the phone call, she took the call and ended it.

They then did exactly the right thing: they contacted the City Council directly where the team confirmed that the lady was fully up-to-date with her Council Tax, that it would NEVER threaten someone with “house arrest” and that it would send out reminder letters if the account was in arrears.

Remember:

Never be Rushed – Take the time to talk to friends and family if you are worried about a cold call approach, whether that has come by phone, mail, online or on the doorstep.

Stay in Control – Make your own enquiries as the lady and her daughter did here.

If you need to phone to check the veracity of a call:

Use a phone number you know and trust, not one the caller gives you.

Make sure the line you use is clear (by leaving 10 mins before phoning, or phoning a friend first), or maybe use a different device. This is to prevent what is known as “no hang up” fraud where the scammer stays on the line.

Change to Bins Collections Week Commencing 19th September 2022

News release -Friday 2 September 2022

Trial of four-day working week proposed to assess viability for Council

A three-month trial of a four-day week could begin in January for desk-based staff at South Cambridgeshire District Council – as a similar pilot of over 3,300 staff continues at more than 70 UK organisations.

Experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic mean people now think differently about work-life priorities; nationally and locally it is harder than ever to recruit and retain staff.

A report outlines how, if Cabinet members agree to the trial, the Council will closely monitor what impact it has on services for residents and businesses. These service levels cannot drop if a four-day week is to be considered as a viable option in the longer term.

To monitor service levels during the trial, the Council would use its standard set of statistics which are regularly updated. These keep a check on things like how long it takes the Council to process benefits claims, Council house rent collections, how fast planning applications are determined, staff turnover, call answering times and more. Industry-standard health and wellbeing surveys will also be used to measure success and be compared against the results from a survey carried out last month (August 2022) before the four-day week trial was announced to staff. The next steps, which could include a longer trial period, would be dependent on the performance of Council services during the first three months of 2023.

As part of the trial, the Council would also look to extend the hours that it is open to the public via a soon-to-be-launched webchat service or Teams / Zoom meetings.

For more than a year, the Council has only been able to fill around eight out of every ten (or fewer) of its vacancies. Between January and March 2022, only around half were filled. There are currently 23 agency staff covering office-based roles, which should ideally be filled by people in permanent positions. Over a whole year, these agency staff could cost the Council more than £2million. If the Council filled all these posts with permanent staff, it would only cost around £1million per year.

Not being able to fill vacant posts – or switching between agency staff to cover them – is also disruptive to services for residents. For example, when case officers change during the process of a planning application, it can cause delays and frustration because a lot of context and institutional memory is lost.

This has led to the Council looking at the viability of a four-day week through a proposed trial between January and March next year. A four-day week is when people work one less day per week but still get paid the same salary. It is not the same as compressed hours, which is working the traditional 40-hour week over four long days.

A four-day week, which for a full-time employee at the Council would consist of 30 hours, can make an organisation stand out from others and be more attractive to talent. It is also seen as a tangible incentive to encourage staff to stay.

Another aspiration of the trial is to investigate whether it would help the Council to attract a more diverse workforce. For example, for those families where childcare costs can be a big blocker from working, or those people with caring responsibilities, it could be a more attractive option than the traditional five-day working week model. This is because the cost of childcare or caring could be reduced, which can also help support wider cost of living rises.

The proposals that will be discussed at the Council’s Cabinet meeting on Monday 12 September 2022 recommend that a three-month trial for desk-based staff takes place between January and March 2023. There are around 470 staff at the Council who would be able to take part. There would be a three-month planning period beforehand. If successful, a trial of the Council’s blue-collar workers, such as bin collection crews, would follow later next year.

The 4 Day Week Campaign started a trial involving about 70 companies in the UK back in June this year (2022). That trial covers around 3,300 employees. There are also trials either underway or soon to be started in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Research from Henley Business School shows that those organisations offering a four-day week benefit from an improved ability to attract and retain talent.

Numerous studies and trials by big companies such as Microsoft in Japan and Buffer in the USA have shown that a four-day week increases productivity.

The Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cllr Bridget Smith, said: “The trial would be all about seeing if a four-day week has the same positive impact on productivity, staff wellbeing and recruitment in Local Government, as seen elsewhere. As a Council we are leading the way on this; it could be truly ground-breaking for local councils nationally. We only filled around half our vacancies during the first few months of this year and using temporary agency staff in these office roles costs us more than £2million a year. We know that if we instead filled those roles permanently, it would only cost around £1million a year. As we look for solutions to these issues, these proposals suggest a robust, evidence-based trial for three months. Of course, it must be a trial that works for our residents and businesses too.

“Attracting and retaining staff is an issue for most councils. Therefore, along with lots of organisations from around the world, we think this is something that is worth investigating. Not only could it help with the wellbeing and retention of our existing staff, but I am hugely keen that we open ourselves up as an employer to a more diverse workforce. As a carer to my 92-year-old mother, I realise just how costly caring can be. The same can of course be said of childcare. If we can reduce the burden of these sorts of costs, which will also help with the cost of living, we could become an employer of choice for far more people who for very valid reasons simply cannot work the standard 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.”

Joe Ryle, Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, said: “The decision by South Cambridgeshire District Council to outline plans to become the first ever UK local authority to trial a four-day week is historic and should be applauded. This move could benefit thousands of workers, improve productivity, and help to tackle the job recruitment crisis in Local Government. We hope this trial, if approved, results in many more councils across the country embracing the four-day week.”

Cabinet members will decide whether to proceed with the three-month trial of a four-day working week on Monday 12 September 2022. If the trial is approved, the Council’s Employment and Staffing Committee will receive update reports and be asked to report back with recommendations following the end of the trial.

Ends

Update for those supporting refugees from Ukraine – 01 September 2022

Dear Parish council colleagues and volunteer coordinators

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

Update on emails concerning ‘Expressions of Interest’ in being hosts

Over the past week, you may have received an email from the Home Office with regards to Expressions of Interest in the Homes for Ukraine scheme. This email asked you to complete a form to notify the Home Office if you are still interested in becoming a host. There is no reason to be concerned by this email. If you have received this email and are already hosting a Ukrainian guest, there could be a duplicate Expression of Interest record for you in the Home Office system.

South Cambridgeshire District Council sent out a similar email on Wednesday 24^th August to hosts who have signed up for the Homes for Ukraine scheme but have not yet been matched with a guest. Our email asks you to complete one of two forms, either to notify us if you wish to be considered as a potential host, or to let us know if you wish to be removed from the scheme. These forms are for different purposes and will reside in different databases, so please complete one of the forms circulated by us on the 24^th August AND respond to the form from the Home Office. This ensures that records are as up to date as possible across the board.

Leavers form for when guests depart

As current hosts will be aware, when your guests arrive at your home, we ask you to complete an online form to notify us that your guests have arrived. This initiates the process of welcome payments and also allows us to track who is here. We have now created a ‘Leavers’ form, which will work in the same way as the arrivals form, but is a place for hosts to report that their guests have vacated their property. If your guests are no longer with you, and you have not yet informed us, please complete the form by clicking this link.

More learning opportunities for guests

Last week, we gave information on three courses run by the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) which can help Ukrainian guests settle into the UK, understand their new surroundings and give them the tools with which to access the jobs market and improve their employment prospects and confidence.

The WEA courses are supported and funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA). Applicants must be aged19+ as of 1^st August 2022. All Ukrainian adults and their family members supported through the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Schemeare immediately eligible to join the courses if they are claiming benefits or are on a low income (under £21,000).

Courses include:

Community Interpreting Pathway – Initial Assessments for Community Interpreting level 1 and level 2 – via Zoom

Date: 07/09/2022 Time: 09:30 to 12:30 https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2022/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C2228989

Date: 07/09/2022 Time: 18:30 to 21:00

https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2022/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C2228990

Date: 08/09/2022 Time: 14:00 to 17:00

https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk/Online/2022/CourseInfo.aspx?r=C2228991

Vital to the support and growth of the community, interpreters enable others to have a voice and to feel safe and understood. The Community Interpreting courses will help you learn the skills and abilities to become a community interpreter and to support those around you. Attending one of the above mentioned online sessions for initial assessment will help to gauge your level of English and your motivation to see if you are able to complete either the ‘Understanding the role of a Community Interpreter’ (Level 1) or ‘Preparation for Work in Community Interpreting Level 2’.

Career Guidance Session for Ukrainian refugees (in partnership with the Cambridge Russian Speaking Society)

Date: 13/09/2022 Time: 11:00 in person at St Andrews Street Baptist Church in Cambridge. From this session, it will be possible to progress to the

Employability Skills Course Online (CV writing, interview skills, job market) C2229068 mentioned in last week’s newsletter: Dates: 20/09/2022 – 18/10/2022 Tuesdays 10am, 5 sessions for 2 hrs per session via Zoom, designed to help students who are new to the UK to apply for jobs by giving support and guidance to compile a CV and covering letter and to practice interview skills. Students will be fully supported to apply for jobs and will be guided in the best places to find job advertisements.

More ESOL (English as a Second or Other Language) Courses

Dates:

08/09/2022 Ref: C2229004

209/09/2022 Ref: C2229005

12/09/2022 Ref: C2229006

These are initial assessment sessions which are required before joining the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses and are conducted online.

Face to Face ESOL courses will be available soon.

Courses are also available as part of the Schools and Parenting Pathway –

Introduction to Support and Teaching in Schools (L1 non accredited)

Dates: 02/11/2022 – 14/12/2022

Other courses starting in September will include Introduction to Specific Learning Difficulties, Child Psychology, Introduction to ADHD, Introduction to Speech, Language and Communication needs, Helping with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Other courses which may also be of interest are:

Digital Skills:

21/09/2022 Taster: Marketing for Starting Your Own Business Ref: C2229040

28/09/2022 – 02/11/2022 Marketing for Starting Your Own Business Ref: C22229041

09/11/2022 Taster: Web Design for Starting Your Own Business: Beginners Ref: C2229042

16/11/2022 – 14/12/2022 Web Design for Starting Your Own Business: Beginners Ref: C2229043

Health and Wellbeing:

04/10/2022 – 18/10/2022 Combating Loneliness course Ref: C2229126

08/11/2022 – 13/12/2022 Creativity for Wellbeing course Ref: C2229126

Anyone interested in the WEA courses can register either online or by calling 0300 3033464. For more details, search by reference number for the courses mentioned above at https://enrolonline.wea.org.uk

A reminder of other courses mentioned in last week’s newsletter are:

Cambridgeshire – Welcome to the UK C2229132

Start date: 14/10/2022, Fridays 10am via Zoom

Designed to help learners have a good understanding of British culture, history, traditions, laws and customs, and to feel confident about living in the UK.

Cambridgeshire – Supporting Employment Opportunities for ESOL Learners C2229133

Start date: 14/10/2022, Fridays 12:30pm via Zoom

Designed to support students in successfully gaining a job and give confidence to ESOL learners to progress from the course to find employment or to go into Further Education and to develop their employment prospects and confidence.

Free courses in Cambridge and Huntingdon

Cambridge Regional College, which has campuses at Kings Hedges Road in
Cambridge (CB4 2QT) and California Road in Huntingdon (PE29 1BL), also has free courses available.

They include ESOL courses, Skills for Employment, and Training and Skills Qualifications. The Huntingdon courses are particularly handy location-wise for those living in South Cambridgeshire parishes closer to Huntingdon who may struggle to get into Cambridge.

The college has online brochures in Ukrainian as well as in English. Details of the courses and how to apply can be found at https://www.camre.ac.uk/student-support/refugee-and-resettlement-support/

Conversational English Café

The Council is collaborating with local bi-lingual volunteers to establish conversational English cafés where guests are invited to come and chat to improve their spoken English.

Unfortunately, due to the summer vacation, we have not had many volunteers come forward. We are putting out a final call for volunteers. If you or anyone you know speaks English/Ukrainian/Russian and is eager to volunteer once a week in the Waterbeach area to begin with, please let us know by emailingDuty.Communities@scambs.gov.uk.

Summer School for Ukrainians

A seven-week Summer School for Ukrainian guests at Ickleton Village Hall, which started at the beginning of August, will continue to run for the next few weeks. It is a daily in-depth English language course running Monday to Friday with three separate classes being conducted by a Ukrainian teacher, Inna from Mariupol. Inna has lots of materials to help with conversational English and grammar and structure too.

Class 1 – Absolute beginners, 1 hour long, small class size (currently 2-3 people taking part) to ensure deep learning

Class 2 – Beginners who can read, 2 hours long (about 8 people)

Class 3 – Intermediate, 2 hours long (about 9 people).

Some scheduling may change as children go back to school next week, but classes are currently in the afternoons. For more information, contact Steve Parsons (in English) at steve_parsons@hotmail.com or Inna (in Ukrainian) at innaakul15@gmail.com

Enjoy a free group visit to Wimpole Hall

The Wimpole Estate, a National Trust property to the south-west of Cambridge, is offering local community groups free admission to the estate and its facilities. A visit to its gardens, the estate and Wimpole Hall provides an enjoyable day out as well as promoting health and wellbeing.

The Community Group Admission Pass will give free access to the Estate for up to 16 people and can be used on any day except bank holidays and the weekends preceding bank holidays.

Those working with or running community groups for Ukrainian guests and their hosts are asked to email wimpolehall@nationaltrust.org.uk or call the estate before coming, stating the name of your group, the number of people and approximate time of arrival. Please complete an application form, which can be found here, and return it with your email. Where practical, community groups are encouraged to visit during weekdays as Wimpole can get very busy at weekends when there may be less scope to cater for additional needs.

Wimpole Estate consists of a historic mansion, beautiful gardens, a show farm and extensive parkland, there is plenty of free parking for cars and minibuses, a visitor reception centre, electric buggies to assist people with limited mobility, as well as cafes and shops. For more information visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate.

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

Update for those supporting refugees from Ukraine – 11 August 2022

Dear hosts, volunteer coordinators and parish council colleagues

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

Disclaimer

The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

This email has been scanned for viruses and malware, and may have been automatically archived

Bin collections during the hot weather

During the forecast extremely hot weather, please ensure your bins are put out the night before they are due to be collected. This is because Greater Cambridge Shared Waste crews are likely to be starting work earlier in the day than usual, to try and avoid the worst of the heat. This means your bins may get emptied earlier in the morning than you are used to

South Cambs – update for those supporting refugees from Ukraine – 28th July 2022

Dear hosts, volunteer coordinators and parish council colleagues

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).

For any questions not covered in this e-newsletter or on our Support for Ukraine webpages, please email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk

DBS checks: Please ensure you have completed them as soon as you are matched

We are reminding all hosts that it is vital they complete the relevant DBS checks for their household as soon as they are matched with a guest/s from Ukraine. If this process is not completed it can delay guests arriving. Full details about how to ensure these important checks are completed are contained within the welcome email that all hosts receive when they are matched with their guests. We cannot emphasise how important it is to ensure these checks are completed. If you require any further information, or have any questions about the DBS process, please email DBS.Scambs@scambs.gov.uk

Looking ahead past the six-month point

We recently wrote to all hosts asking them to complete a survey to give us an indication about whether they are looking to remain part of the Homes for Ukraine programme past the initial minimum six-month point. Please complete this survey if you have not done so already; it will help us to plan how we support hosts and guests during this next period. We have had a good level of response so far and many hosts have said that they are planning to continue to provide accommodation beyond this initial six-month point and we are very grateful for this commitment. As a reminder, the £350 host payment does continue for a period of 12 months.

Although we have not yet had confirmation from Government on the next phase of the programme, we know there is a strong preference that guests should stay with their initial hosts for the full 12 months. As soon as we have further clarity from Government on this we will, of course, let you know. In the meantime, we are continuing to work on how we can provide the best support for guests who wish to move to alternative accommodation.

We’d encourage hosts to continue talking to their guests about their future plans as early as possible – especially if this is likely to involve them moving-on – so that they have time to consider their options. A full 2 months’ notice is needed to guests if you are no longer able to host. Further information can be found within the ‘looking ahead’ section on our Information for Homes for Ukraine hosts webpage.

Free English classes in Sawston and Cottenham – beginning in September

Working in partnership with A Learning Place, we are delighted to be able to offer free, weekly English classes for guests. They will take place in Sawston and Cottenham and will begin in September. Places for students on Homes for Ukraine visas will be funded by us and 20 places will be available in each location and allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The classes will be taught by qualified and experienced ESOL teachers and will focus on the spoken English needed for everyday life. The classes are aimed at adults, but secondary age young people may also attend. To sign up, please complete this short registration form and for more information, please contact Amy on 01223 297358 or hello@alearningplace.co.uk

Please note, although classes will take place in Sawston and Cottenham, guests from anywhere in the district are welcome to attend.

Conversational English Café

In addition to the classes mentioned above, we are collaborating with local volunteers to establish ‘Conversation Cafes’ where guests are invited to come and chat informally to improve their spoken English. We hope that sessions will begin in September and are likely to be held either on Monday evenings or Saturday mornings in Waterbeach.

Cambridge University has generously launched an appeal for multilingual volunteers, but numbers are low. If you know or are aware of anyone who speaks English / Ukrainian / Russian and is keen to volunteer in this way, please ask them to contact us on duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk

We will conduct DBS checks prior to the commencement of these sessions to ensure the safety of our guests. If the sessions in Waterbeach are a success, we will look to facilitate Conversation Café sessions in other parts of the district, so please let us know if you are interested.

Thank you for interest in job opportunities

We recently asked for people to consider joining our team to support Ukrainian guests. Our appeal has seen a huge response and will not be able to consider any further applications.

If anyone helped us by sharing this opportunity, can you please remove any website posts etc to avoid disappointment.

Current vacancies at the Council

Although the opportunity to join the team supporting Ukrainian guests is now closed, the attached PDF contains details of our current vacancies at the Council. The document has been translated into Ukrainian, so please pass it on to your guests. You can contact scdcrecruitment@scambs.gov.uk if you need any further assistance or have questions.

H.A.Y. South Cambs! How Are You?

The organisation H.A.Y. South Cambs! How Are You? promotes positive mental health in South Cambridgeshire. Its website shines a spotlight on all those things going on in the community that are good for our mental wellbeing, as well as giving support to those experiencing a mental health crisis.

Its website features a dedicated page for Ukrainian guests and host families Ukrainian Guests & Host Families – How Are You South Cambs (haysouthcambs.co.uk), giving information on the support available to them in the area, with details on what local volunteers and community groups are offering, from activities to practical help to employment opportunities and more.

The website page also includes a map showing where different support groups are situated, which may be useful to those who have arrived in neighbouring parishes where there’s limited support in place.

Third supplier joins ‘free bikes for Ukrainians’ initiative

Our popular free bike scheme to help Ukrainian guests settle into life in South Cambridgeshire is being expanded – with more donations of bicycles needed. TAG Bikes in Huntingdon is joining our initiative with two other local charities, OWL bikes and Camtrust, to help meet the demand. So far, a total of 48 bicycles have been provided for guests.

This bike scheme provides Ukrainian guests with a free fully refurbished cycle, with helmets and locks supplied, also free of charge. The Council also provides them with details of a free Bikeability cycle training course, which includes a translator.

TAG Bikes is appealing for anyone with a spare bike to get in touch to donate it to the scheme, with a particular need for more ladies’ cycles. Bicycles that are in a reasonable condition can be donated along with unwanted helmets, spare tyres and parts to TAG Bikes at Huntingdon Community Centre, 12a Ambury Road, Huntingdon PE29 1JE. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am until 4pm. TAG Bikes would also be willing to collect bicycles that cannot be dropped

off at their centre in Huntingdon. Contact 01480 377697 in the first instance for further details.

Impington-based Camtrust also continues to need donations of bicycles. If you can help, they can be contacted on 01223 236786 or via email to info@camtrust.co.uk.

OWL bikes are currently working on the bikes they have in stock.

The bicycle scheme is available to any Ukrainian refugees, including children, who are living in South Cambridgeshire under the Homes for Ukraine programme. Hosts can apply on behalf of guests. Applications for bikes can be made online at https://bit.ly/3BhXHBB and the Council will put the applicant in touch with the nearest supplier so they can arrange to collect their bicycle. If bikes are no longer needed, they can be returned to the supplier.

See Third supplier joins ‘free bikes for Ukrainians’ initiative – South Cambs District Council (scambs.gov.uk)

Wild Minds – outdoor activities for younger Ukrainian guests

Young people from Ukraine are invited to get involved in the Wild Minds courses which we run at two of the district’s country parks.

Wild Minds was set up three years ago to help improve mental health in young people through outdoor activities. It is supported by a Clinical Psychologist and offers free outdoor activities in small groups in a park setting to make the most of the natural environment.

We will be running special ‘Ukrainian-only’ sessions for young people aged from 12 up to 17 who are struggling with issues of depression or worry, particularly related to their experiences since the outbreak of the war.

Each session is an hour and a half long and takes place on a weekly basis for eight weeks, run by skilled activity instructors and youth workers, with the first session at

Wandlebury Country Park on 24August. For more information and to sign up to join, see Wild Minds – South Cambs District Council (scambs.gov.uk)

Charitable organisation appeal from homesforukraine.org

The charity homesforukraine.org has personally helped over 163 Ukrainians, six dogs, and a parrot find long-term sanctuary in the UK. The team of experienced volunteers is dedicated to helping displaced Ukrainian nationals obtain visas, find safe accommodation, and comfortably settle in the United Kingdom.

With over 12 million Ukrainians displaced since the conflict began, and aiming to help tens of thousands more, it has received wide-ranging assistance so far, including from the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire, and Anna Clunes, Britain’s Ambassador to Poland.

The team matches Ukrainian nationals with their British sponsors, completing the protracted visa application process (including the particularly confusing Animal and Plant Health Agency license applications for pets), arranging temporary accommodation in Poland where required and then onward travel to the UK — all at the charity’s own cost.

And its work doesn’t end there: after the Ukrainian nationals arrive, it provides UK sim cards, assists with setting-up UK bank accounts and local GP registration, arranges English language tutoring, completes National Insurance applications and helps with kindergarten/school places, and much more – in short offering comprehensive support through what can be a confusing and often frustrating process for all concerned.

British sponsors in South Cambridgeshire are invited to visit the charity’s website at www.homesforukraine.org or call 07970 030437 for more information.

Grants for activities and education

A reminder that financial help is available in the form of grants to help Ukrainian families integrate into British community life. Launched three weeks ago by the Council, up to £300 per project is offered for a wide range of events which aim to help reduce social isolation and encourage families to feel more involved in the local community and life in Britain.

With a total grant pot of £20,000 available (funded by central government), applications can be made up until the end of the 2022/23 financial year. Project ideas could range from buying books for English language classes or ingredients to fund a cookery day, to venue hire or travel costs to take Ukrainian guests on outings in the local area.

Parish councils, community groups, informal groups or individual hosts are invited to apply. Applications will be assessed weekly to ensure a quick turnaround. Criteria, guidance and an application form can be found on our website. Or for more information, email ukraine.grants@scambs.gov.uk

All information previously shared can be found on our Support for Ukraine webpage – where you will also find our ‘Ukrainian Guest information hub’

Bill

Bill Handley

Lead Cabinet Member for Communities

South Cambridgeshire District Council

IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT BIN COLLECTIONS DURING THE CURRENT HOT SPELL

During the forecast extremely hot weather, please ensure your bins are put out the night before they are due to be collected. This is because Greater Cambridge Shared Waste crews will be starting work earlier in the day than usual, to try and avoid the worst of the heat. This means your bins may get emptied earlier in the morning than you are used to.