Posted on Tuesday 6th December 2022
More than 800 Ukrainians have made Staffordshire their temporary home as part of the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.
The scheme has seen more than 400 Staffordshire residents give accommodation to families from the war-torn country.
A total of 633 Ukrainians are still being accommodated by sponsors in the county following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, while 172 have moved on out of the sponsorship scheme.
Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet meeting will review work done on the scheme by the county council and its partners, including district and borough councils, health, education and the voluntary sector.
Members will also consider a proposal to set up a dedicated resettlement team within the council that will work on the Homes for Ukraine programme, as well as broader resettlement.
Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Communities Victoria Wilson said:
“Staffordshire has a long and proud history of helping those who have had no choice but to flee war and persecution, and Staffordshire people have stepped up in their hundreds to help people fleeing the war in Ukraine. We want to ensure that those arriving are supported, so their experience of Staffordshire is a positive one.
“It is clear that the war in Ukraine will not end any time soon, so it is important to ensure we have the right team in place so we can help support not just the Homes for Ukraine scheme, but also broader resettlement programmes.
“We will also continue working with our district and borough councils, health, education and community partners, as well as the voluntary sector to ensure the right support is in place at the right time.”
The county council’s cabinet will meet to discuss proposals on December 14.