UK entry visa delays are slammed as ‘shambolic’
Refugee families caught up in red tape
A group working to help refugees from Ukraine come to Perthshire have called the slow progress “shambolic” and “unacceptable”.
Aberfeldy has 16 local families willing to take matched Ukrainian refugees but red tape means no one has been able to come yet.
There are close on 20 Highland Perthshire hosts in place - from Kenmore to Grandtully with the majority in Aberfeldy - thanks to Highland Perthshire Welcomes Ukraine (HPWU) volunteers.
Conversations are going back and forth on Whatsapp between the willing hosts and desperate people trying to get to Scotland.
“It really is great to see, friendships being formed and photos being swapped so we can show our new friends where their new home will be,” said Anna Brocklehurst, a spokesperson for Highland Perthshire Welcomes Ukraine.
But frustration is building as the complex visa process to enter the UK has so far prevented the sanctuary sponsorship plan from being activated.
Even the initial sponsored family Tetiana, her husband Andrii and two month-old son Mark - have not set foot in the UK yet. They are waiting in Poland for permission to enter the UK.
Anna added: “The community here in Aberfeldy have been amazing. We have been inundated with support of all kinds including host families and sponsors, employment and more.
“But, despite this, nothing has changed for those Ukrainian people and their families we are able to help because the situation processing visa applications is so shambolic.
“Until this changes, and a much greater sense of urgency is applied, our efforts will be in vain.
“It is, of course, frustrating for us, but for those in Ukraine and who have fled their homes it is much, much, more serious.
“Something really needs to change and urgently. None of the families we are sponsoring has even had an update on their visa situation. It is, frankly, completely unacceptable”
On Monday evening there was a packed out public meeting at Breadalbane Community Campus when a presentation was given explaining the work being done by volunteers from HPWU.
The dynamic organisation sprung out of Gavin Price and the Schiehallion Hotel’s initial call for the community to open its doors to people displaced by war.
The meeting shared two examples of people from Ukraine lined up for a welcome in Perthshire. Vitalana and Daniel, from Kyiv, have been matched with David and Angel Donaldson from Grandtully.
Another match involved single unrelated boys. It turned out the two boys went to the same school in Ukraine and were friends, so they were matched with Lindy and James Lundon, also from Grandtully.
Organisers dubbed the response to the campus meeting at Breadalbane “incredible” with no seats left and people regretfully turned away “as our community arrived to support us in their numbers.”
Local councillors John Duff and Mike Williamson were present and Elaine Ritchie and Jenny Kent from Perth and Kinross Council were able to help answer many of the questions brought by local people willing to take in families and lone individuals.
They explained that home checks and disclosure checks will need to be done before families arrive.
HPWU said: “A really positive and at times emotional meeting. The highlight being Tetiana’s moving video she produced for us as our welcome message. There weren’t many dry eyes left in the lecture hall.
“Tetiana and her family is of course our first match and continues to help us from Poland with the visa process.
“We are still being frustrated with Home Office red tape which is preventing families travelling. We hope this will be resolved soon.
“If last night was anything to go by, our community has the energy, passion and appetite to get this done.”
The group now have an amazing 16 family matches.
Local people have stepped up to work together on visa preparation and administration, host liaison, language, welcome and integration, plus transport and fundraising.
See the website at www. highlandperthshirewelcomesukraine. org
...nothing has changed for these Ukrainian people HPWU group spokesperson