Hosts offered £600 to take in Ukrainian refugees

New volunteers hosting Ukrainian families can receive £600 per month as a “thank you” payment.

Elmbridge Borough Council is offering money for people opening up their homes to Ukrainians in acknowledgement of the cost-of-living.

Since the scheme began in March 2022, over 300 households in Elmbridge have hosted and supported nearly 600 displaced Ukrainians.

The new initiative is concentrated on families or individuals who already live in Elmbridge but need to move on from their current host.

“People don’t do it to make money,” said Jeannie Tweedie, Co-director of Elmbridge CAN, a small charity which welcomes refugees into the borough.

She added: “But with bills and increased costs in the household with having somebody else there, it’s really good that the money from the council is available.”

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she wants to reassure people and potential hosts that “it’s not all on them” and “there’s a community around to support them”.

ElmbridgeCAN, set up in 2016 to respond to the Syrian refugee crisis, aims to bring the community together to support newcomers with integration.

The charity runs welcome hubs, employs two support workers to help with interpreting and a host support network.

Ms Tweedie said: “We have about 100 volunteers who give a lot of time to help [refugees] into jobs and help them to understand life is like here as well as running community English lessons.”

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