Will you open your door and host Ukrainian refugees- mothers, grand-mothers and their children?

I think I read somewhere that to host a refugee you should live in a town or city, not out in the country

Are these services by the police being provided free of charge? Or does the oligarch pay?

The police are making utter idiots of themselves, turning up in such large numbers at the absent oligarchs mansion, now earmarked for Ukrainian refugees.

1 or 2 policemen would have been quite sufficient.

I have 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms - I only use one of each so the bedroom/bathroom space would not be a problem. But living space and kitchen would be shared. I basically live in my large kitchen/dining room as the chairs are upright (can't get up from sofa because of slipped disc), and I only have to heat that room, so it saves on heating bills.

Sop .... a couple of other challenges to add:
- increased bills (although there is going to money to cover this)
- noise! I am very sensitive to lots of noise - or just a fusspot! - and I have Radio 3 or selected tracks on Spotify on the go all day.

But I must remember that whatever problems it might cause me would also apply to the refugee, who would also have to get used to sharing a home with a stranger whilst having much more serious problems to add in.

I am well aware that it can be difficult integrating a stranger into your own home. Having live-in care for my OH during the latter months of his life was very stressful indeed. But, to be fair, it was already a stressful and emotional situation.

Some of the challenges were:
- different languages - communication required more effort than I could muster at that time.
- bathroom - one of the carers insisted on showering 3 times a day!
- lack of quiet private time.
- dealing with their problems - I honestly felt like a social worker again some of the time. A refugee will by definition have lots of problems.
- food - I do not cook very much really - lots of salad and some ready meals. Having a refugee might mean I would have to pay more attention to proper meals.

I will look into having a Ukrainian refugee when the site open tomorrow. But I will be looking into it with my eyes open.

I have a spare room with bathroom . It's a little untidy but someone with a dog may like it as I also have a garden and a park nearby. However I can't be responsible for anyone's continuing wellbeing or behaviour. It would be accommodation only.

To show how refugees should be welcomed, here a video by the Austrian newspaper Kurier for Ukrainians arriving in Austria. The video is in Ukrainian and dubbed in English

youtu.be/xJ7RvmfyCW8

Fran been, please don’t suggest ‘the British public have closed their minds to Yemen’ Syria, parts of Africa. That implies racism, that the huge response to the needs of Ukrainians is because their culture is more similar to ours.

This war is in Europe, it’s the result of a megalomaniac invading a European country that the US, UK and others promised to defend if they abandoned nuclear weapons.

Not everyone, Franbern
There is at least one Gansnetter who took in Afghan refugees and others have been supporting Syrian refugees in the countries, eg Turkey, where they still remain after all those years of war with Putin aiding Assad to destroy their country.

I am perplexed as to how war refugees from a European country seem to be viewed so differently to war refugees from other continents.

British public have, wonderfully, opened their wallets, their hearts and their homes to those fleeing Ukraine. But closed their minds to those fleeing Yemen, etc. over the past several years.

YES, ALL refugees should have totally equally rights to come to UK and to settle and work here.

I am pleased to see Gove is saying the Refugees, where they are able to, will be able to work. Now extend that to all refugees coming here Mr Gove!

Iam64

I’d rather see the empty properties in London, owned by Russian (dare I say Chinese) investors used to house refugees

All empty properties should be used, wherever they are.

I am considering signing up to the refugee scheme, but will wait and see what it entails. I suspect that I am too rural to be considered, although others in the village are thinking about it so there might be Ukranian speakers around.

I’d rather see the empty properties in London, owned by Russian (dare I say Chinese) investors used to house refugees

Agree with you LizzieDrip...

Why isn’t our royal family offering to house refugees? They have loads of properties full of empty rooms, as well as the wherewithal to organise things. They could easily house hundreds of refugees. About time they did something useful for the money they receive from the taxpayer!

Well said, GillT57

It is beyond tedious, paddyann
Not everyone in Scotland thinks like you.

Maybe give it a rest Paddyann54, your comments about 'British' government are tedious. As I keep pointing out, many people living in England are unhappy with the Tory administration, many were and are still unhappy about Brexit. I have no doubt there are many in Scotland who are unhappy with the SNP, and there are some in Scotland who voted to leave EU, so can you please stop with the constant 'us' and 'them' comments.

paddyann54

Boris has to keep his Russian "friends" happy ,taking in Ukrainians probably wont suit them .They do give him a lot of money so he'll be loathe to lose that !

He is that worried about keeping the Russians happy Paddyann54 that he has sent tons of arms to Ukraine along with U.K. soldiers (before the invasion) to train them in using them against his Russian friends

No point in e-mailing my MP hes as furious as I am about the "British" governments response or lack of in regard to Ukrainian refugees ....no doubt he'll be told to F off back home when he speaks in the commons ....such honourable gentlemen on the Tory benches.....!

Keep up with the news, paddyann

Boris has to keep his Russian "friends" happy ,taking in Ukrainians probably wont suit them .They do give him a lot of money so he'll be loathe to lose that !

volver

Callistemon21

volver

Why does it matter how many refugees the US have taken?

If they're doing something badly does that let us off the hook?

No of course not.
It matters because they apparently criticised the UK but have a far worse record themselves.
They should put their own house in order then they may make a criticism.

It's not a great tactic, is it, all criticising each other.

Apparently?

When was that then?

Whitewave's post mentioned it.

As I haven't seen verification I said apparently

GillT57

I have had a pleasingly prompt reply from my MP, and like you Callistemon, it contained a lot of party platitudes. However, he did make valid points about security issues and pointed out that all parties recognise the need for visas. I have replied that I appreciate this necessity, but surely he could see how a small office in the back street of Calais, with 3 keen but uninstructed staff, a box of crisps and a box of kitkats was a humiliating example of Great British administration, let alone welcome.

I sent two more emails to mine about rules, regulations coming before people but he hasn't replied again.
His wife is Eastern European.

I heard on the BBC news at lunchtime that Moldova has lost track of a lot of the refugee children who have entered the country. They just don’t know what has happened to them. Rather worrying.

One of my daughters is volunteering at a reception centre for Ukranian refugees in a European city.

They arrive by train or bus having been given free transport, and are then directed to the reception centre in a large sports hall which is now a cafe, registration office, free shop for supplies, children's play area, emergency health centre etc.

She works with children, many of whom have a smattering of English. (Just as well as she doesn't speak Ukranian or Russian).

Most of the arrivals are women and children, but occasionally she meets an old man, like the one she saw staggering towards the centre carrying a very heavy bag. When she offered to carry his bag in for him he refused saying "Oh no, you are a lady and I am a strong young man. I'm only eighty!"

Of course he may have been suspicious because of what he's been through, and not trusted her with the last vestiges of his belongings, but I like to think it was because he is a proud Ukranian.