Letter: Council Needs to Publicise Ukrainian Refugee’s Plight

Published on: 18 Oct, 2022
Updated on: 18 Oct, 2022

From: Ros McMillan

Many Ukrainians who were sponsored to come to this area are nearing the end of their six-month sponsorship. Some sponsors may extend their stay; many are not able to do so and their guests must urgently seek alternative accommodation.

Guildford Borough Council was very supportive when the Ukrainians first arrived, issuing cash cards immediately and giving advice on registering for necessary services. But its follow-up is less helpful.

Now would be the time for the council to launch a concerted effort to recruit a second cohort of sponsors so that those Ukrainians who are not yet self-sufficient have the security of a safe place to continue living.

This requires advertising widely. The new sponsorships would be less onerous than the existing ones as all the long-drawn-out administration with visa applications, school and medical registrations etc, have been completed and the Ukrainians themselves know their way around the area and have friends and contact groups already.

It would also cost the council considerably less than having to provide emergency housing for homeless Ukrainians and would avoid taking housing away from people on the housing waiting list.

I would urge the council to do this immediately and I would urge people with space in their houses to consider becoming sponsors.

Responses to Letter: Council Needs to Publicise Ukrainian Refugee’s Plight

Jonathan Readings Reply

October 19, 2022 at 6:22 pm

Very well said Ros.

My wife and I are also host to four Ukrainians in the Guildford area and we are well aware that many of the 80 or so Guildford based hosts will be looking for a Guildford Borough Council plan for these fine folk when our period of hosting comes to an end. It is quite clear that there is no plan, and that the council has no lead councillor for this pressing issue.

At present we will have to make the people staying with us homeless in order to prompt council action, which is morally repugnant to us.

A council plan to recruit more hosts is needed now, in order to avoid a very expensive and shameful disaster here in Guildford and the surrounding villages.