A new council scheme is now available to help Ukrainian refugees settle in the UK.
Cherwell District Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council have partnered to launch the Homes for Ukraine Grant Scheme.
The funding is available to community organisations to help them fund projects and services that support Ukrainians.
Olha, a mother of three who moved to the UK with her children after the Russian invasion and found work with the council as an housing officer, described the scheme as “a great start”.
A spokesperson for the council explained that the scheme was designed to help Ukrainians “successfully integrate and settle” in their new communities.
Olha, who had settled into a home in Oxford with children, found a job as a housing officer for the Ukrainian team of Vale of White Horse District Council.
Her job is to assess the needs of Ukrainians and help them find alternative housing.
Olha is confident that the new scheme can make a real difference.
She said that the UK rental market is different from the Ukrainian one in that most properties are furnished in the UK, but in Ukraine the majority of properties are not.
“People who fled the war did not bring furniture, bedding or cutlery so they needed to equip their properties.”
The council will pay a discretionary fund of 500 PS per person. However, the grant scheme can provide additional support.
Olha said: “Having experienced all this stress myself, I can understand Ukrainians who come here at a loss and are trying to find their footing here in the country. I’m doing everything I can to help them.
“I consider Homes for Ukraine to be a good starting point for people who want to move to another nation and settle in. We are still unsure of what will happen with us, but we are grateful to be here and happy and safe.”
Cherwell District Council is administering the scheme and accepting applications.
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