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Support for Ukraine

Support for Ukraine

Our diocese is working as a partner with the charity Citizens UK to offer accommodation to refugees who are fleeing from the the conflict in Ukraine. They were already running a project to sponsor refugees before the Ukrainian crisis, and have partners in Ukraine, Moldova and Poland who can identify refugees and organise transport to the UK. They also have the expertise to help us with the next steps for refugees after the initial six-month commitment runs out.

Citizens UK were looking to identify hosts (or ‘sponsors’) across the UK who can welcome Ukrainian refugees, via the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, plus others to befriend and support. 

Register your interest in hosting refugees from Ukraine or providing other kinds of support by emailing our Refugee Coordinator (joint with the Diocese of Portsmouth): maricar.jagger@portsmouth.anglican.org

If you are interested in hosting refugees or offering other support, below are some more details about the process:

  • The Refugee Coordinator will be in touch to let you know about DBS checks, home checks, training and other support that we can offer to you;
  • If you’ve already applied to be part of the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, you can still add your name to this list. But if you’re already linked with someone in Ukraine who you intend to accommodate, there is no need to do so;
  • All hosts are well supported through a Lunch and Learn programme and other networking events;
  • Those who we are welcoming will have experienced loss and trauma. Potential hosts don’t have to experts in these areas, but should recognise these challenges before offering accommodation;
  • This has to be a commitment to house an individual or family in a spare room or a separate house for six months (not sleeping on floors or sofas);
  • We’re particularly interested in homes/rooms in areas with greater local infrastructure, to help refugees access support services that already exist. But we wouldn’t turn away offers from more remote parishes;
  • We’d like those who host refugees to be part of a team at your local church(es) who could offer befriending and other support. A host family cannot do this alone. 

Further Resources

The national Church of England has put together a Toolkit to help you to prepare for welcoming refugees. It brings together practical information about community sponsorship, prayer and advocacy, plus links to other information such as safeguarding. You can read their announcement about this here, and download the whole Toolkit here.

Another way to help is to register to welcome Ukrainian refugees with a new organisation called the Sanctuary Foundation. It encourages individuals and churches to register to offer support – meeting refugees at the airport, befriending them, and helping them to access local services and support as they settle in or near your church. Once you’ve registered, they’ll be in touch to let you know how you can help, when help is needed.

If you are providing space for Ukrainians to gather, this poster might be useful for displaying in those premises. The poster, written mostly in Ukrainian, reads: “If you do not feel safe or your host does not make you feel safe, or if you are in danger please call 0300 555 1386. If it is an emergency and if you need help now please call 999.”

Prayer Resources

Christians across the globe have been praying for the conflict in Ukraine since the invasion began. Although certain days have been put aside as specific Days of Prayer, you can of course include prayers in any church services, or pray at home, using some of the resources available. Here are some ideas:

  • You can find some Church of England liturgical resources to use when praying for peace here.
  • In addition, use this Christian Aid prayer for Ukraine for the one year anniversary of the war
  • You can also ask churchgoers to light candles to pray for peace and for those bereaved, injured, displaced and frightened; organise a vigil or act of witness; and post photos of your prayers and candles on social media channels with the hashtag #WePrayForUkraine;
  • Prayer 24:7 have released a prayer for the crisis, available online, and downloadable in PDF and PowerPoint formats, in English and Spanish.
  • EngageWorship have released a five-part prayer online and in PowerPoint format, and also provide links to 5 Ukrainian hymns.

Donations for Ukraine

If you would like to make a donation to help those who are caught up in the conflict in Ukraine, or who are fleeing from it as refugees, here are some helpful places to start looking:

Useful Links

Government

Local Authorities

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