How to keep warm this winter ⛄️

The rise in the cost-of-living is affecting millions across the UK, with many reporting they will be unable to switch on the heating over the cold winter months.

It’s important that everyone has a warm and welcoming space to go to this winter, which is why the Warm Welcome campaign has developed a network of community organisations, churches, libraries, businesses and other faith groups across the UK who have opened their doors to provide exactly that.

Each Warm Welcome space will be:

• 🆓 Free – Spaces will be free to enter for everyone.
• 🔥 Warm – Spaces are heated and able to provide basic refreshments such as tea/coffee.
• ️ Welcoming – Spaces are inclusive, non-judgmental spaces where everyone can expect a warm welcome from staff and volunteers.
• ☕️ Safe – Every Warm Welcome space will carry out their usual safeguarding policies and hygiene rules. Organisations will make basic signposting information available to people who need further support and help.

Over 3,000 registered organisations have opened or are opening up free, warm, welcoming spaces for the public over this winter across the UK. You can read more and find a Warm Welcome space near you here 👇

Reminder: Welfare checks have started

It’s important to us that all Ukrainian guests are safe and well, and that hosts have the support they need too. From this week onwards, we will be carrying out welfare visits for all guests who have been living with their hosts for 6 months or more.

The purpose of the welfare visit is to check guests are safe and well, confirm they are still living at their hosts’ property and to provide advice, guidance and information to you and your guest.

These checks have now started, so hosts can expect to be contacted in the coming weeks. 

An email with further details about these welfare checks has already been sent to hosts and guests. In case they missed it, they can view these emails in full here:

🔗 Welfare checks – Hosts 
🔗 Welfare checks – Ukrainian guests

Reminder: financial help for guests is now available for the private rented sector

We know this time of year can be busy for everyone, so we wanted to remind you that we recently shared a guide covering available housing options and private rented sector move-on support available to Ukrainian guests to help them find independent accommodation.

Financial help is now available from Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA) where guests can apply for help with:

• Deposit and holding fee
• One month’s rent in advance
• Six months guarantor agreement between the landlord and SCDA
• Help towards the cost of furnishing a property

Guests can find out more about the application process on the SCDA website 👇

Christmas service dates & availability 🎄️

Over the Christmas and New Year period most services will take a break. There are national bank holidays on the 26^th & 27^th December and the 2^nd January 2023.

However, many services will close for the whole period from the end of the day on Friday 23^rd December until Tuesday the 3^rd January.  This includes our Homes for Ukraine email and phone number, and there will be no newsletters during this time. Local voluntary sector services will also have limited or no availability.  If you have any concerns about accessing services for hosts or guests, please let us know before the 23^rd December.

More details on service availability over the Christmas period can be found here 👇

We use this newsletter to bring you updates about how East Sussex and its communities are working with our Ukraine guests. You can unsubscribe at any time.

If you have further questions, you can contact us at ukraine@eastsussex.gov.uk

We wish everyone a great weekend.