Ukrainian Guests & Host Families

South Cambs District Council:

• If you are a guest from Ukraine, you can find support here.
• If you are hosting guests from Ukraine you can find support here.
• To see how the community has responded and how you can help, click here.
• If you’d like more information about government schemes for Ukrainian refugees click here.
• If you’d like support finding employment in the UK, South Cambridgeshire District Council is working with BEAM – email [email protected] for a referral.

English Language Classes:

Local Services:

Bar Hall Library offers free drop-in digital help sessions on Mondays from 10.00-12.00. No need to book.

Cam Russ has a helpline for guests and hosts with a translation service. Call 05603 025975 (9am-6pm weekdays, 10am-5pm Saturdays).

Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum offers advice and support to Ukrainians in Cambridgeshire and can help with housing issues, finding a job, ESOL classes, education, access to public services and benefits. If you have any problems and concerns, please email (in English, Ukrainian or Russian) [email protected]  or call 01223 655241.

The Besom in Histon & Impington can help with sourcing and supplying furniture, equipment and household items as well as with other practical hands-on support. More information here.

The Odessa Project, set up by the owner of the Willow Tree in Bourn, has been set up to help Ukrainian guests find employment in the catering industry locally and nationwide. Find out more here.

Working with South Cambridgeshire District Council, OWL Bikes and Camtrust can supply free, second-hand but good quality bikes for Ukrainian guests – find out more and fill out a short form here.

Local Support Groups:

In the village of Abington, Abington4Ukraine has developed a Whatsapp group where hosts and guests can communicate their needs and hosts/volunteers in the village can offer their support. For more information, email Ms Amaris on [email protected]

In Cambourne and the surrounding villages, Ukrainian guests and host families have a Facebook page to share information and activities – you can request to join the group here.

Coton 4 Ukraine facilitates integration and practical support for Ukrainian guests living within & near Coton, helping to foster mutual understanding within the broader community to make newly arrived Ukrainians feel safe and welcome. The group provides support across the spectrum of resettlement and integration needs, including but not limited to: English literacy tutoring sessions; employment mentoring and support; administrative tasks; sourcing goods and local services; transportation assistance; and facilitating local connections relevant to specific needs and interests. Contact Jamie Garsha via email [email protected] or find out more on
www.coton4ukraine.wordpress.com or www.facebook.com/coton4ukraine

Cottenham Supports Ukraine has a Facebook page and WhatsApp group with over 250 members, some of whom arrange welcome packs for  guests and/or fundraise to provide other essentials. The group is available to answer questions, provide contacts or share useful information. Email Frank Morris for more info [email protected]

Drama classes for young Ukrainian guests in Cottenham

Free drama sessions for Ukrainian guest children and young adults aged 9-15 have now started at Cottenham Community Centre after school. Contact Sheila Gosling (the group leader) for more information by email [email protected]

Elsworth Support Group is there for the twenty or so families in the village who are hosting Ukrainian guests. Email Peter Newton for more info [email protected]

The Fen Ditton Refugee Support Group is made up of hosts and other people in the village can offer support to guests, either by helping hosts prepare for their guests’ arrival or for guests once they arrive, for example with childcare, playdates, befriending and so on. Contact Ed Cowdrith and Jo Miles via email for more details [email protected]

Histon and Impington Ukrainian Support is a small local group offering the following support to hosts and guests:

• linking up hosts with other local people who are available to support them in their role;
• welcome visits to hosts and guests;
• a Whatsapp group and Facebook group for hosts and guests; occasional social events;
• local English and conversation lessons.

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Meldreth Tea & Chat offers informal support to Ukrainian guests and hosts by providing a forum to meet, exchange news, ask questions and share contacts. If you can get to Meldreth, you are welcome to attend – you don’t have to live there! Contact Richard Fry for more details on [email protected]

Mordens Ukrainian Support Group covers Guilden Morden, Steeple Morden, Littlington, Abbington Piggots and Bassingbourn. It organises occasional social gatherings and several support services including transport, language support, informal chats, tennis (Steeple Morden Tennis Club has offered free membership to Ukrainians staying locally). For more information contact Peter Garner via email [email protected]

OASISS is a community initiative in three villages just South of Cambridge (Great Shelford, Little Shelford, and Stapleford). The aim is to welcome into the community those Ukrainian refugees in the Government’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ (HfU) scheme. OASISS has a website with a wealth of resources that is available to all. It has also teamed up with It Takes a City to facilitate the collection of financial donations to help Ukrainian guests with travel assistance and short-term needs on arrival. Guests from other villages are welcome to join in activities (including coffee mornings and other social events) and are very welcome to make use of the clothes hub –  however if/when numbers are restricted, the guests of OASISS hosts will be given priority. If you would like to learn more or feel you may be able to help in any way, please come along to next social gathering or email  [email protected]

In Pampisford & Sawston, there is a group that offers:

• help finding hosts in Pampisford and Sawston;
• information about village facilities (in Ukrainian);
• English language classes in the village led by ESOL-qualified teachers open to guests living in Pampisford or in villages directly adjacent;
• CV building, job search and interview practice;
• prayers in Ukrainian and Russian languages at Pampisford church;
• signposting grants for guests from a local charity;
• a WhatsApp group for guests to communicate with each other in own language;
• pop-up clothes shop – free clothes at Sawston Free Church from 4-6pm on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month;
• social events – meet-ups for guests and hosts.

If you’d like to know more, you can email Nigel Upton on [email protected]

Royston Rotary Club is facilitating various social events to help Ukrainian guests feel welcome. A new monthly café will be starting soon, providing coffee and cakes to local Ukrainian families so they can meet and spend time getting to know each other. Royston Rotary Club may be able to provide free transport to some families needing assistance. Hosts are also welcome. If guests (and hosts) would like to attend, please contact [email protected] for more information and to register your interest.

Whittlesford Support Group shares useful information as well as having a volunteer who can offer lifts in their car for Ukrainian guests. There is a database of names and contact information of hosts and potential hosts that is shared  with a related WhatsApp group for guests & hosts in Ickleton. Contact Catherine Tompkins via email for more information [email protected]

Click here if you are looking for support beyond South Cambs:

National Charities:

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) is the UK’s largest representative organisation for Ukrainians and people of Ukrainian origin. It develops, promotes and supports the Ukrainian community in the United Kingdom. The AUGB is mostly operated by volunteer teams from local communities. Branches host a variety of cultural, educational, social and charity events, as well as support local youth and women’s organisations. Find out more here.

The national charity homesforukraine.org helps match Ukrainian nationals with British sponsors, supports with obtaining visas, finding safe accommodation and assists with settling into life in the UK. This includes providing SIM cards, setting up bank accounts, local GP registration, English language tutoring, National Insurance applications and finding pre-school/school places (and much more). Visit the charity’s website at www.homesforukraine.org or call 07970 030437 for more information.

Barnardo’s has a national helpline to support Ukrainian families that can help with:

• therapy with a qualified psychotherapist – delivered via the phone or online, with access to interpreters;
• advice on a range of issues including housing, accessing key health services, education, employment and more via trained helpline support workers;
• practical support – access to digital devices to ensure you stay connected to loved ones, as well as  toys for children, baby equipment and more.

All services include access to interpreters in Ukrainian and Russian.

The Barnardo’s Helpline is open:

• Mon – Fri 10.00am-8.00pm
• Sat – 10.00am-3.00pm

You can contact the helpline on: 0800 148 8586  or email: [email protected]

For more info on Barnardo’s Helpline click here.

Artists in Exile offers artists and creatives who come to the UK through the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme help with travel, accommodation and finding work in the UK. Contact via email or find out more on the website.