Calls for hosts for UK resettlement programme in Denbighshire

The Council is calling on people living in the county to get in touch with Welsh Government if they can offer a home for those resettling in the UK as a result of the atrocities in Ukraine.

The Council has worked closely with Welsh Government to welcome families and individuals to Denbighshire and teams from the Council have been working to carry out checks at properties put forward as a sanctuary. Teams are also working to support people’s health and well-being needs, as well as supporting families to find places in school for their children.

Welsh Government has now renewed its call for more hosts that can offer a home to come forward and the Council is supporting them to share information and reach local communities.

To offer a home in Wales for refugees from Ukraine you must:

• live or own residential property in Wales
• have not been matched with guests from Ukraine
• be able to offer a spare room or separate home for at least 6 months
• have leave to remain in the UK for at least 6 months
• not have a criminal record

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Denbighshire has a long history of accommodating and supporting refugees and over the last five years the Council has resettled 25 families, made up of 95 individuals, predominantly in response to the refugee crisis in Syria and Afghanistan.

“We are pleased to have been able to welcome families and individuals arriving in Denbighshire from Ukraine over recent weeks and that work continues.

“The Council is working to ensure the relevant support is available for families once they arrive in Denbighshire, this includes our education team processing applications for school places.

“Through Home Office funding, we are well placed to provide the necessary support and have a working group to manage the programme, as well as a dedicated team working directly with families, and additional support from partners in the third sector and from local volunteer groups.

“A number of Denbighshire residents have come forward to offer accommodation to those who have been forced to leave Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict and on behalf of the Council I would like to thank them for their generosity.

“However, we need those individuals or families who can provide a home to get in touch with the Welsh Government."

If anyone has any enquiries, or would like to offer accommodation, they should visit: www.gov.wales/offerhome.