What you can do and information for hosts
Last updated: 26 October 2022
Homes for Ukraine Scheme
The UK Government has launched its Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will allow households to sponsor and take in refugees who are fleeing the war. The first phase, which began taking registrations of interest, is aimed at people who are able to make offers to a specific person/people. Ukrainian people arriving will have met standard security checks, and all sponsors and all adults in the sponsoring households will be required to do the same.
The scheme is offering a monthly payment of £350 in exchange for accommodation (spare room/self-contained accommodation) for a minimum six months. This doesn’t include meals or living expenses. You can get initial details of the scheme and how to apply on the UK Government website.
Home checks for people in Edinburgh who are hosting Ukraine people are being booked. If you have applied to be a host and are waiting confirmation, please be patient - we will be in touch as soon as we can.
Council tax support
The Council Tax rules have been changed for people who are temporarily hosting people from Ukraine. If you currently have exemptions or relief, these will still apply to your Council Tax. For example, if you currently get a single person discount, you will continue to get this if someone from Ukraine temporarily comes to live with you in your house.
GP registration
If you are hosting people from Ukraine, please help them register with a doctor at the local GP practice. You can find information on how to register with a GP.
Donating
Several organisations have set up appeals for help for those caught up in this situation. These organisations are providing humanitarian support for people in the Ukraine.
- The main appeal being run by the UK’s Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) is the one the Government is encouraging people to donate to so the funds can be shared across a range of charities. Donate and find out more about the appeal
- The British Red Cross supports people by supplying shelter, medicines, water, food and clothes
- Unicef deliver life-saving programmes to children along with water to areas heavily affected by war
- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is working with local authorities in Ukraine to help with refugees
- Oxfam is taking donations through the website or in their shops
Please be safe online when donating money to support Ukraine. Make sure that you research any organisation or website that asks for money before submitting your payment details.
Volunteering and third sector support
We are working extremely closely with EVOC and Volunteer Edinburgh to help coordinate our response to the crisis. Find out more about all volunteering opportunities in Edinburgh.
If you are a third sector, voluntary or charity group that would like to provide support to help people from Ukraine, EVOC is co-ordinating Edinburgh's support. You can read more about what they are doing on their website.