Money for refugees

Refugees are able to see a Dr or go to A &E and I think it's free to see a Dr in an emergency, but that certain types of treatment are not covered. www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide

I know that when I looked into being a sponsor for someone overseas if I had done so, I would have needed to have paid their NHS surcharge as they had no recourse to public funds (benefits of any kind) and no entitlement to NHS treatment beyond basic emergency help.

It's startling isn't it. I hope to God that someone proves me wrong. Otherwise it's a stitch up.

I thought you got £350 per month to help with your bills.
Local council gets £10.500 per person extra for Children plus they get free Health care? they can apply for a job straight away if they want.
That's what I read/heard ..?

From what Michael Gove said to Sophie Rayworth on BBC1 this morning, the Ukranian refugees will have access to the NHS and to state benefits, employment etc.
There will be numerous checks, to ensure hosts are appropriate and refugees are genuine, but no details of how this will be done. A lot more information is needed, but it does not look like the existing sponsorship scheme rules will apply. He also said the refugees will need access to local support. Another financial burden for local authorities, it seems.
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That’s very interesting AreWeThereYet. How are they doing?

OnwardandUpward

Refugees are able to see a Dr or go to A &E and I think it's free to see a Dr in an emergency, but that certain types of treatment are not covered. www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide

I know that when I looked into being a sponsor for someone overseas if I had done so, I would have needed to have paid their NHS surcharge as they had no recourse to public funds (benefits of any kind) and no entitlement to NHS treatment beyond basic emergency help.

It's startling isn't it. I hope to God that someone proves me wrong. Otherwise it's a stitch up.

I know Asylum Seekers are entitled to the same services as UK residents, but if you 'sponsor' one, does that change the dynamics?

I think the government need to make it clear what the responsibilities are by issuing a clear guide (other than "refer to the website"). Otherwise some people who might well be able to or want to take part in this scheme won't do it for fear of what they might be liable for.

AreWeThereYet I would like to know how everything is working for you all.

I think Sponsorship does potentially change the dynamics because normally refugees do get payments of £36 a week, which is supposed to cover food and toiletries. (That's a paltry £5.14 a day!)

I suspect that this would not be given out to a refugee who has a sponsor. As I saw someone mention on the Daily Mail story, there will be additional costs of nappies and baby milk etc , clothind and shoes as most will have fled with barely more than the clothes on their backs. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10606715/Britons-host-Ukrainian-refugees-fleeing-Putins-war-350-month-thank-payments.html#reader-comments

The government needs to be putting together a comprehensive package of what's on offer and how they can help facilitate the resettlement of these poor survivors. They have already been through so much. I don't know of many people who can afford to host a family in their home in return for approximately just £10 a day. I know, it's charity- but I think many of us would prefer to continue to donate to charities providing aid to the Ukrainians rather than host them in our home. I think most of us would prefer to pay £10 a day for them not to be in our home- and that's no offence meant to the Ukrainian people. My previous experience of having people from other cultures living in our home has given me a realistic look at the challenges that can exist- and the costs that can be involved.

I fear that, if this scheme fails because it is ill thought out, and expectations of host households turn out to be excessive and unrealistic, and if insufficient people feel they are able to come forward to offer this level of support, the recriminations will be aimed at an ungenerous, disappointing response from the British public and the government will feel able to say, well, we tried.

What about local communities getting together and providing temporary shelter, with all necessary facilities in, for example, village halls, and sharing the help, funds and responsibility required? I’m probably being naive and unrealistic.

I'm already seeing things online along the lines of "So-and-so criticised the treatment of refugees but HE's not taking one into his own house."

It shouldn't be incumbent on anybody to take anybody else into their house and nobody should be made to feel guilty for not housing a refugee. It does seem as this is just a way of the government being able to dodge responsibility and make it our fault.

We're the 6th biggest economy in the world. We can manage.

I initially felt that, these poor people are so displaced, have lost all that's dear and familiar to them, that it might be kindest to house them all together where their culture can be supported. I thought, perhaps they can find support from other's who know what they have been through?

But then I saw a comment on the Daily Mail that said that the British government hope that their language skills will be helped by living with a British family. I also realised that they may be too traumatised to be of much help or support to each other, so may benefit from our solidness. "Solidness? " You know what I mean.

Many questions have been raised and will continue to be raised, I think. Yet it's important for everything to be transparent because most people don't have an annexe that's lying empty. I don't know anyone with spare rooms that they either are not using or that they don't need to rent out. I think if there was some type of scheme where they would do something in return for their rent, like providing housework or other essential services for older people then they could be a real asset and the situation could be mutually beneficial if personalities were matched and good relationships were made.

Oh my goodness.

Sorry but I was amazed.

Having people fleeing war to live in your house if they do your housework is basically slave labour.

Just imagine. These people were living normal lives like you and me. Within days their lives changed beyond all recognition. What a desperate situation. All they need is warmth, food, a comfortable bed, a shower and someone who cares to listen to what they have experienced. How can we help?

Maybe it takes a special kind of person to accommodate a probably traumatised refugee - this is not a 'sponsor-a-student' enterprise where you are simply offering accommodation, food and a bit of language-learning thrown in.

There's much more to it than just offering up a spare room, I think you'd have to make sure your diary was free of any commitments and that you had the time, the empathy and 'know-how' to host these refugees who are going to be quite reliant on you 24 hours a day... especially if there are children - who will need a safe play area both inside and out.

It's a good idea in principle - but it seems to be almost a knee-jerk reaction by the government who want to be seen as 'doing something' but haven't really thought it through.

It's all very well to feel magnanimous and sympathetic to the awful plight of these women and children but taking them in is a commitment that you can't really give up on if it doesn't work out well. They deserve better than this.

I fear a lot of people will volunteer and then find they can't cope. You need to think could you cope with members of your own family living with you for six months and then consider how you would cope with strangers. The heart may say yes but really the head should rule on this.

Delila and Patsy70 They have been with us for some weeks, as our friend managed to get them out as soon as things started to turn really sour. So although they were frightened they were unharmed. They are obviously very worried about everyone left behind (including two brothers and a son), and about their houses and property, and are keen to go back as soon as possible. It was a bit sticky at the beginning (Should we talk about the war? Shouldn't we talk about the war? Will we upset them? ) but we've all got to know each other a bit better now. It would be a whole other kettle of fish having refugees who have actually escaped a war zone I think. It is also easier for us as Lina takes responsibility for anything that is needed for her family, so we are really just housing and feeding them, almost as if they are on holiday.

If I am honest I am finding it very difficult dealing with their mood swinging between extreme demands (I really, really don't think I can do anything about the Russians, I'm so sorry) which seems to happen every time the family have all been together, and their extreme gratitude, which I think is because Lina reminds them every now and again that they would be back sleeping on her floor if we didn't put them up, and I'm really not sure which is worse. We're away this week so we're all having a bit of a break from being under each others feet. When there are normally only two (or one) of you it needs a big mental adjustment to cope with other people being around constantly. And before anyone feels the need to give me a slap - yes, I am aware how much worse it is for them, which is why Lina will never hear any of this from me.

Sorry, didn't mean to write a book and bore you to death. ?

I don't think anyone should want to give you a slap, this is a free country and I hope we don't end up being judged by whether we can take in a refugee or not.

AreWeThereYet

Delila and Patsy70 They have been with us for some weeks, as our friend managed to get them out as soon as things started to turn really sour. So although they were frightened they were unharmed. They are obviously very worried about everyone left behind (including two brothers and a son), and about their houses and property, and are keen to go back as soon as possible. It was a bit sticky at the beginning (Should we talk about the war? Shouldn't we talk about the war? Will we upset them? ) but we've all got to know each other a bit better now. It would be a whole other kettle of fish having refugees who have actually escaped a war zone I think. It is also easier for us as Lina takes responsibility for anything that is needed for her family, so we are really just housing and feeding them, almost as if they are on holiday.

If I am honest I am finding it very difficult dealing with their mood swinging between extreme demands (I really, really don't think I can do anything about the Russians, I'm so sorry) which seems to happen every time the family have all been together, and their extreme gratitude, which I think is because Lina reminds them every now and again that they would be back sleeping on her floor if we didn't put them up, and I'm really not sure which is worse. We're away this week so we're all having a bit of a break from being under each others feet. When there are normally only two (or one) of you it needs a big mental adjustment to cope with other people being around constantly. And before anyone feels the need to give me a slap - yes, I am aware how much worse it is for them, which is why Lina will never hear any of this from me.

Sorry, didn't mean to write a book and bore you to death. ?

A very lucid, honest and thought-provoking post, which gives a realistic insight into what it means to host a refugee. Thank you for posting it.

... and if anyone thinks you need a 'slap'... they need to give their heads a good wobble first.

Kudos to you.

Yes LuluAugust I fear a lot of people may intitially agree and then find they cannot cope, too. In recent years we have hosted foreign students and had various people to stay, so it probably makes me a bit aware- but I don't have experience of supporting people from war torn countries and with complex traumas.

I think it's wise to talk about what's involved because then anyone who's considering giving them shelter can weigh up what's going to be involved and also not be sucked into doing something that's potentially going to be harmful to their own wellbeing.

Really, truly if it's not acceptable to ask the refugees to clean and do laundry, then you are essentially making yourself a lot of extra cleaning and laundry as host, while your "guests" may not help. I fear that most people do not have the time, space, financial freedom and patience to do host- and that the government may use our reluctance as an excuse not to take many Ukrainians.

I wonder if there are other countries in Europe that will take them and how they are doing it?

Thank you AreWeThereYet for your insight into the reality of hosting traumatised people from Ukraine in your own home. You are a few weeks into the arrangement, and your guests were fortunate to escape the worst of the war in their country by getting out early - how much more traumatised must people be now that they have witnessed first-hand the horrors that we see on our television screens every night?

This is obviously a huge undertaking, making demands on all aspects of life in ways that we may not be able to imagine. It needs to be thought about very carefully for the good of all concerned, before jumping straight in.

Wishing you and your visitors all the very best.

I think the words ‘host’ and ‘guest’ conjours up a picture of holidaymakers arriving for a stay at an upmarket B&B.

Sadly, this won’t be the case.

There is no way I could see myself offering 6 months accommodation to traumatised strangers from another country.

There will be many folk rushing in to sign up for this, only to realise too late what a commitment it is.

We have volunteered. I am sure it won't be easy. However we have the advantage of a big house and several bathrooms. We have 5 children ,now all away from home. So we are used to a houseful and we have quite a few guests coming to stay. We are fairly laid back sort of people. Watching the horror of Ukraine on the TV we feel prepared for it knowing all these people need somewhere to go. We have a couple of holidays booked so we would need to leave our visitors in our home but I hope a friendship and trust will develop and it won't be a problem.

This seems to be another example of the government privatising the care of refugees. What’s the betting some government chums get the contract to vet applicants and monitor the scheme? What’s to stop some farmer letting refugees live in caravans and ask them to do a bit of labour on the farm? Plus you have to name the family you wish to help when you sign up- how many will be able to do this? This scheme has more holes than a fishing net.

Thank you mumofmadboys for your kindness. I do hope that those who want to help, but can't offer accommodation, will donate (if they can) as, together, we can make a massive difference.