It’s terrible I felt I needed to do something to help
RESIDENTS who have opened up their homes to Ukrainian refugees have been speaking about what the process has been like.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme was launched last month and allows individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to bring people fleeing the war to safety – even if they have no ties to the UK – and receive £350 per month as a ‘thank you’ payment.
So far, local authorities in the area have said they are expecting 300 refugees from Ukraine to come to the area, but North Somerset is yet to release its numbers on expected refugees.
In recent weeks, the Government has faced criticism over the speed and scale of its efforts to bring Ukrainians fleeing from the Russian invasion to the UK.
One Ukrainian living in Bristol said the Government response had been “too slow”.
The Government has said the Homes for Ukraine scheme was set up in record time, but it acknowledged progress approving visas had not been good enough and that the Home Office had made changes to visa processing.
Kris Ford, from Weston-superMare, signed up for the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Having a spare room, she decided to do so because she understood what refugees were going through as the situation was similar to when Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974.
The driving instructor – whose father was English and whose mother is Cypriot – said: “I have finally found a single person whose husband and son have to remain to protect their country.
“I did have a couple of mums with children, but both wanted family with children in the same household.
“My refugee is still in Ukraine, alone and scared. The process is very slow. The Government could lift visas and maybe do the checks after, if necessary.
“People like me who regularly get checked for their jobs are unnecessarily being DBS checked again.”
Ms Ford said she was in touch with the refugee – a woman in her 40s who works as a carer for the elderly – on a daily basis while they waited for her visa to go through.
Paul O’Brien, from Wraxall, in North Somerset, also signed up for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, but did not hear anything back.
Instead, he was able to find an elderly couple through Facebook. They already had family in Bristol so were able to get a family visa, he explained, and they are now staying in his garden flat.
“They arrived just over a week ago now,” he said. “They do not speak any English, so we are using Google translate.
“They want to help around the
My refugee is still in Ukraine, alone and scared. The process is very slow, the Government could lift visas and maybe do the checks after, if necessary
Kris Ford
house, and they did some gardening for us.”
Mr O’Brien said that, as they came via a family visa, they were not receiving any money from the Government.
“But you do not sign up for these things for the money; it is because you want to help out,” he said.
“I am just letting them settle in. When they first arrived, they were quite tired and in a state of shock – they look a lot happier now.
“I could see straight away that they are genuine, nice people. It is terrible what is going on in Ukraine and I felt I needed to do something to help.”
Mr O’Brien said one of his neighbours had also taken in a Ukrainian family, adding that he had told them they could stay as long as they needed but that he imagined they would probably want to go back when they could. The resident said he felt the Government response had been too slow and that they should be letting people in without a visa.
Jonathan Baker, who lived in Ukraine on and off for 20 years, has also signed up to the scheme, deciding to do so because he has spent most of his working life in the country and also in Russia.
The 52-year-old said his two children were half-Ukrainian because his ex-wife was from the country, but they were now living in Belgium.
He added: “They are a country that has given me so much. I have always felt welcome wherever I have gone, so I just want to do what I can to give back.”
He said they had two spare rooms – a large room with a double bed and a single, and a smaller room with two single beds – so they could host a mother and two children.
Mr Baker said he was hoping to host a good friend of his, but that she had given up now on waiting for a visa and had gone to Spain instead. His friend couldn’t wait any longer because she wanted to get her 12-year-old daughter into school as soon as possible.
“It is so frustrating,” he added. “We were two weeks into the war by this point and they were telling me it could be another week [to get the visa]. She was offered a place with a friend in Spain, so they decided to go as they can get refugee status.
“Her daughter is in school already and they are both learning Spanish.”
Mr Baker said he then got a request from his business lawyer back in Ukraine and they did her visa application, adding that she was sent to a visa centre in Berlin.
However, after spending the day in a queue and not being seen, his friend decided to give up and get refugee status in Germany.
“She felt the UK wasn’t interested in having her, and that it would be at least two or three weeks to get into the country,” he added.
“These people want to go back to Ukraine. These are not economic migrants – they are refugees from a war.
“I have not given up on finding someone. I am a member of Ukrainians in Bristol Facebook group and I am talking to some people there. My biggest issue is how long it takes.
“I have also spoken to my friends in Ukraine and told them that, if anybody tells them they need a place, we would be happy to have them and look after them.
“I think the military support the UK has given Ukraine has been fantastic, but for the refugees it has been diabolical. It is a disgrace.
“I feel really embarrassed when I talk to my friends back in Ukraine. I do think they should be doing more for the refugees.”