Cheshire West and Chester Council is holding two events for Ukrainian guests and their sponsors this October – one in Chester and one in Northwich.
The events will celebrate Ukrainian culture and there’ll be advice and support on hand for guests and sponsors.
People are invited to join the council and its partners at:
- Saturday 1st October (12 – 4.30pm) at Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HJ
- Saturday 8th October (10am – 2pm) Applemarket Place, Apple Market Street, Northwich, CW9 5BB
The council says it has worked with refugees and sponsors when planning the events, which will include advice and support on work, welfare, skills, training, health and more, as well as Ukrainian food tasters and cultural activities.
The events will include:
- Advice from the Department of Work and Pensions on work and welfare.
- Support from Cheshire West and Chester Council Workzones regarding skills, training, support and getting into jobs.
- Community and voluntary organisations offering advice and support for guests.
Council leader Cllr Louise Gittins said: “As a council we are proud to be playing our part in welcoming people from Ukraine and are incredibly grateful for the role that our communities are playing in helping refugees to settle here in our borough.
“These events are a great opportunity to foster that community spirit and togetherness and provide a continued warm welcome for our Ukrainian guests.”
Refugee’s champion Cllr Samantha Dixon added: “The events in Chester and Northwich are great opportunities for our Ukrainian guests and their sponsors to get advice on matters such as work, skills and welfare, and to find out where they can access support and training.
“We encourage all of our residents to come along and get involved to sample tasty Ukrainian food and find out more about Ukrainian culture.”
The authority is playing its part in providing safety and shelter for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
A spokespersons said: “The borough has a proud history of welcoming refugees and others seeking sanctuary and we are doing what we can to support Ukrainian people at this time of crisis.
“The government has committed to making funding available to councils to provide support for refugees coming to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
“The council are helping to make sure sponsors and their guests are safe and supported, that refugees have access to services like health, education, work and benefits and that Ukrainian families are supported to integrate into local communities.”
Extra support…
In addition to the events, new funding is being made available for Ukrainian refugees who’ve arrived in Cheshire West.
Chester-based charity SHARE (Supporting Homeless, Assisting Refugees Everywhere) has raised £17,000 for Ukrainian refugees since the conflict began in March this year.
They will use this to provide an initial payment to people who have arrived through the government’s family visa scheme, and some of the cash will be aside for future needs.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “We founded SHARE in 2015 to help all those fleeing war torn countries and help anyone homeless here in the UK.
“So, for us, fundraising to help Ukrainian refugees, when war broke out earlier this year, was really important.
“Feedback showed us that the people who had the greatest need were those who have come to our area outside of the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, so it’s great to be able to even things up.”
Cllr Gittins commented: “The response from the community to help people facing such upheaval and emotional trauma is outstanding.
“People have literally opened their doors to welcome refugees and provide a safe place to stay, as well as donating money and items to help where possible.
“SHARE’s contribution to help support the Family Visa Scheme is amazing and we cannot thank them, and our communities, enough.”
Cllr Dixon added: “The council’s main role has been to administer the Homes for Ukraine scheme, but we know that there are people who have come to our borough through other schemes and need local support.
“This money from SHARE means that we can do more to help all Ukrainian refugees in our area.”
To find out more…
To find out if you or someone you know is eligible for funding, please visit:
www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ukrainefamilyvisa
You can find out more about the council’s response to the Ukraine conflict at:
www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ukraine
