Technical Notes 2022, Issue 90- Update on Ukrainian Resettlement

1. The purpose of this technical note is to provide elected members with an update on the resettlement of Ukrainian people in East Dunbartonshire. The note outlines the UK and the Scottish Government’s responses to the humanitarian crisis and the new resettlement schemes, which have been introduced in response to this situation.

2. East Dunbartonshire Council approved the report PNCA/027/22/EB, Agenda Item 22 at the Council meeting on 31 March 2022 and agreed to participate in the multi-agency response to support a range of vulnerable people within managed resettlement programmes, including Ukrainian Refugees coming to East Dunbartonshire. It was agreed to provide accommodation for up to four families, under the Homes for Ukraine Scottish Government Super host Scheme. Council requested that updates were provided on resettlement via technical notes to members at appropriate points.

3. The fast paced and very reactive nature of the response required in relation to Ukrainian refugees by both the UK and Scottish Governments differs markedly from previous schemes. There is no local authority control or clear oversight of the number or profiles of refugees coming to East Dunbartonshire. This has meant that local authorities have had to respond and react to those refugees as they arrive, based on their statutory duties and the expectations of the UK and Scottish Governments.  

The national approach to the resettlement of individuals from Ukraine does not give the Council the opportunity or level of control. Private households, business and community organisations have been asked to provide accommodation for families, and register their interest through the Homes for Ukraine website. The local authority and community planning partners are expected to provide both the standard resettlement type support and additional activity in support of sponsoring/host households. The council is responding to a complex and evolving set of circumstances.

4. There are currently three distinct routes to resettlement in the UK for refugees coming from Ukraine.These are:

Homes for Ukraine Scheme – a UK wide programme where by individuals, charities, businesses and community groups can offer accommodation through Homes for Ukraine website. Sponsors find a Ukrainian match themselves before they travel to the UK. Visas must be granted before travel.

A Warm Scottish Welcome (Scottish ‘Super Sponsor’ Scheme) – whereby displaced persons can choose ‘The Scottish Government’ as their sponsor within the Homes for Ukraine website. Existing sponsors registered via Homes for Ukraine can opt to switch to a Warm Scottish Welcome and be matched to displaced families once they arrive in Scotland. Visas must still be granted before travel.

Family Visa Scheme – Families with Ukrainian relatives apply for their relatives to home them on a family visa. The individual fleeing Ukraine must meet eligibility criteria.

Homes for Ukraine and a Warm Scottish Welcome place a number of specific responsibilities on local authorities. The Family Visa Scheme is not currently subject of any published guidance or additional resource allocation to local authority. Local authorities are, of course, required to provide statutory services to all families arriving under family visas.

Under Homes for Ukraine and Warm Scottish Welcome, families or organisations providing homes/accommodation are termed ‘sponsors’; individuals arriving for Ukraine are termed ‘guests’.

Under homes for Ukraine, sponsor and guests much be match before visa’s can be granted and guests enter the UK.

Under Warm Scottish Welcome, the Scottish Government acts as the super sponsor which triggers via application. Guests then arrive Scotland to be supported and are temporarily housed in Welcome Hubs. Welcome Hubs have been established in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Edinburgh and Dumfries & Galloway local authority area before onward match to private third or public sector longer term sponsors.

5. Requirements of sponsors include:

All adults in the house 16+ years old must agree to an Enhanced Disclosure check which includes an identity check. The Council is required to undertake identity checks, countersign and apply for enhanced disclosure for those individuals who propose to house Ukrainian individuals within their own home, including those offering separate accommodation. EDC resettlement team are connecting with hosts and processing enhanced disclosure applications.

All sponsors must agree to a home visit property check. The Council’s Environmental Health team are undertaking the house checks, in accordance with guidance from the Scottish Government.

Sponsors are advised to check with their mortgage lender/seek agreement from their landlord. This includes EDC tenants registering for the scheme

Sponsor must provide suitable accommodation for a minimum of six months. However, anecdotal information has highlighted some relationships have since broken down and individuals from Ukraine are presenting at local authorities homelessness services. Therefore, there may be cases where the sponsor/guest relationship breaks down and the guest is at risk of homelessness. This would trigger the Council’s statutory homelessness duties which arise under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

Sponsors should help guests to adapt to life in the UK. Both UK and Scottish Government have produced guidance for hosts.

Under the Warm Scottish Welcome, sponsors are not required to meet guests on arrival into the country; they will be met and housed at the Welcome Hubs whilst longer-term accommodation is arranged. Under Homes for Ukraine, sponsors must meet their guests, make contact prior to arrival, and facilitate transfer to their accommodation.

6. Sponsoring household will be paid a thank you payment of £350 per month, for up to 12 months. Payments is per sponsor not guest, and paid in arrears. Satisfactory disclosure and property checks must be completed before payment can be made. This payment is not made under the Family Visa Scheme. Individual guests are entitled to a payment of £200 one-off payment. And they have recourse to public funds.

Providing support to guests includes English for Speakers of Other languages, Education, Employability, Money, Debt and Benefit advice, facilitating access to healthcare and other community-based services.

The UK Government has advised a £10,500 per person tariff will be made available to councils to enable them to provide support to families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities. East Dunbartonshire Council has received a grant offer of £264,000, being its share of the national £11.2 million

7. The council has established a resettlement team to provide wrap around resettlement support to all guests and hosts. Council services and a wide range of partners are playing an integral role in supporting resettlement.

• In terms of the Homes for Ukraine scheme then there are currently 28 hosts and 60 guests receiving support within East Dunbartonshire area, 23 of these guest are under the age of eighteen. Hosts are located across the spread of East Dunbartonshire Council area; however, significant numbers are based in Bearsden, Milngavie and Lenzie.
• Further, and in relation to the Warm Scottish Welcome ‘Super Sponsor’ Scheme there have been 125 expressions of interest submitted across East Dunbartonshire of those who wish to be hosts. The resettlement team and Environmental Health are currently progressing visits and safeguarding checks including house checks and processing enhanced disclosure checks for those individuals and properties.
• COSLA who are managing the matching process on behalf of the Scottish Government matched the four council allocated properties with families on the Warm Scottish Welcome ‘Super Sponsor’ Scheme. These guests arrived mid-May and are settling well into their new homes and communities.

 8. A programme of Welcome Drop-In sessions have been arranged for guests and hosts to attend.

The primary purpose of the sessions are using a Community Learning and Development approach connect with guests and hosts, including potentially any individuals not known to EDC. Those attending will be able to access a range of information, including sign-posted and access support and guidance. Translation will be available. They will also inform any identified gaps in provisions, and opportunities for community development activities. Key partners are being asked to support sessions including CAB, HSCP, GGC NHS, Education, ESOL and EDLCT.

          The first event was held in May in Milngavie and further events are planned in the coming weeks in Lenzie, Kirkintilloch and in Bearsden.

Further information available from Evonne Bauer or Pamela Campbell, Team Leader of Community Planning and Partnerships.