By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Gloucestershire has reiterated its commitment to helping Ukrainians who have fled after Russia’s illegal invasion of their homeland.
Shire Hall chiefs agreed yesterday (March 5) to set aside more than £1.7 million to continue top-up payments for hosts who take in Ukrainian refugees.
The top-up payments of up to £600 a month will be available for all hosts taking part in the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
And this scheme will continue for up to three years from April this year until March 31, 2028.
The council says this is the length of time that the allocation is projected to last for, based on the current number of host placements and expected future arrivals/departures from the scheme.
The proposed allocation is in addition to the allocations previously agreed.
Public health cabinet member Mark Hawthorne (C, Quedgeley), who took part in his final cabinet meeting before stepping down in May said it was an “apt end” to his 14 years at Shire Hall.
“This is a report and paper to something of which I am extremely proud of as a council and county in the work we’ve done to support those fleeing conflict in Ukraine,” he said.
“It builds on our longstanding tradition in Gloucestershire of always putting our hand up and saying we will support those fleeing conflict.”
He said one of the schemes he first worked on was the Syrian refugee scheme many years ago which is still running.
“We’ve done both Afghan schemes,” he said. “I know we are doing a lot of work to support that with our district colleagues.
“The homes for Ukraine scheme was rightly launched by the Government when Ukraine was illegally invaded by Russia.
“And we, in this country, immediately put our hands up, not only to provide military aid but help provide a shelter for those fleeing conflict.
“The response of Gloucestershire is something we should be rightly proud of. The number of hosts that put their hand up was huge.”
He said the council should continue to provide a safe haven for them for “however long the people of Ukraine need that support”.
Council leader Stephen Davies (C, Hardwicke and Severn) said the council has set a budget which allows them to provide this support.
He said he used to house a Ukrainian family.
“I remember them arriving and everything they owned was in the vehicle they turned up in,” he said.
“They didn’t speak English, they didn’t know what was happening and they then got integrated in a local school, got support.”
He said it was amazing to see the transformation and they have since moved out and are living independently near Gloucester.
“They have prospered very much,” he said. “It’s appropriate we do this in this time and we defend those who need defending from bullies and aggression.”
Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk
Original post on the Gloucestershire News Centre website
Gloucestershire News Centre