Ukraine Host Scheme Offers £600 a Month to Volunteers
People hosting Ukrainian families in Elmbridge, Surrey can get £600 each month. This is to help with the cost of living. The council wants to say thank you for helping out.
Since March 2022, over 300 households have hosted nearly 600 Ukrainians. Now, the council is focusing on people who need to move from their current hosts. They are looking at families or individuals who already live in Elmbridge.
Jeannie Tweedie, a charity director, said that hosting doesn’t have to be all about making money. She thinks it’s good that there’s help available for bills and other expenses. The council’s payment is also meant to show that people are not alone in this effort.
A local charity called Elmbridge CAN has been helping refugees integrate into the community since 2016. They run welcome hubs, have support workers who can interpret languages, and have a network of volunteers to help with housing and finding jobs.