The UK has a long and proud record of offering sanctuary to the most vulnerable. As part of our humanitarian response to the conflict in Ukraine, the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme has opened today.
This new route will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to sponsor Ukrainian refugees to find safety here – including those with no family ties to the UK (therefore no eligible under the existing family route).
I am so pleased to see over 150,000 sign-ups to the scheme and I wish to thank every constituent who has come forward to help for their generosity and willingness to help give our friends from Ukraine a true Cornish welcome.
Nobody wants to place any kind of limit on the Great British hospitality we will be offering to Ukrainians in need, so the Government has announced that there will be no numerical limit on the sponsorship route.
Anyone with a spare room or unoccupied self-contained accommodation can register to the sponsorship scheme. Those sponsoring Ukrainian refugees can opt in to receive a 'thank you' payment of £350 per month up to 12 months.
We are also ramping up our work to welcome Ukrainians with family connections in the UK. The latest figures show that over 6,000 family visa applications have already been accepted and measures are being taken to make the application even quicker and easier for Ukrainians in need, including waiving the requirement for those with valid passports to go through security checks before arrival in the UK.
To apply to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, please visit https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/
For more information about the scheme: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions
My team and I stand ready to assist constituents with their Homes for Ukraine application: office@stevedouble.org.uk