It’s been confirmed this morning that over 89,000 people in the UK have signed-up to open their homes to refugees fleeing war in Ukraine.
The website for the dedicated Homes for Ukraine scheme was officially launched yesterday afternoon, and has reportedly crashed on several occasions as an impressive 1,500 people registered to offer support within just the first hour of it going live, according to Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary Michael Gove.
In an address to the House of Commons this morning, Mr Gove said that the UK had a history of “supporting the most vulnerable during their darkest hours”.
He expressed his hope that many Brits would “open their homes” and accept Ukrainian refugees, adding that this act would help those fleeing persecution to find “peace, healing and the prospect of a brighter future.
Mr Gove said the new scheme would be based on “the enormous goodwill and generosity of the British public”, and said there’d be “no limit” to how many Ukrainians could enter the UK under the scheme.
“This is a huge humanitarian crisis, and we are urging the British public to come forward and help where they can,” Mr Gove said.
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As part of the visa sponsorship scheme, any Ukrainian national or immediate family member of a Ukrainian national, if they were resident in Ukraine prior to 1 January this year, is eligible to enter the country, and they do not need to have existing family ties to the UK.
📣NEW – UK individuals, charities, community groups & businesses can now record their interest in supporting Ukrainians fleeing the war through our new Homes for Ukraine scheme.
— Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (@luhc) March 14, 2022
How does the scheme work?
The scheme offers a route to those who want to come to the UK and have someone here willing to provide them with a home, and will enable individuals, charities, community groups, and businesses to volunteer accommodation and provide a route to safety for Ukrainians, and their immediate family members who have been forced to escape their homeland.
Sponsors should provide accommodation for as long as they are able, but the government has a minimum expectation of six months.
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Under the first phase of the scheme, offers must be made to a specific person or people, and charities and other organisations might be able to help those offering accommodation to make contact with a named person.
It’s been confirmed that checks will be undertaken on individuals offering to host refugees, but Mr Gove said full DBS checks would not be needed.
Local councils may also check that the accommodation being offered is appropriate.
Is there any financial support?
As confirmed last week ahead of the launch of the scheme yesterday, those who make an offer of accommodation to refugees will be entitled to an optional “thank you” tax-free payment of £350 per month, and this will not affect benefit entitlement or council tax status, such as single occupancy discount.
Those offering to house refugees will not be expected to cover the costs of meals, food and living expenses for Ukrainians, but they can do if they wish to do so.
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Local councils will also be offered extra funding to give wider support.
Refugees from Ukraine under the scheme will be able to apply for benefits, take up employment, and will be granted leave to remain in the UK for three years so they have the access public services, such as the NHS and schooling.
89,000 people in the UK have signed-up to open their homes to refugees fleeing war in Ukraine / Credit: DEC (via Twitter)
How do I sign up?
You can sign up to offer accommodation to refugees fleeing Ukraine on the Homes for Ukraine website here.
If you have a named person who you wish to sponsor, then you should get in contact with them directly and prepare to fill in a visa application – which will go live on Friday 18 March – with all their details and yours, but if you don’t know anyone and still want to offer accommodation, the government suggests getting in touch with charities, faith groups, or local community organisations who are starting to make connections between individuals.
You can record your interest as an individual or as an organisation, and the government says all those who register will be “kept updated” once they sign-up.
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Additionally, the British public are also being urged to make donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which has been set up in response to the crisis in Ukraine, with every pound donated by the British public set to be matched by the government up to the value of £20 million.
The DEC has stressed that monetary donations are needed as opposed to specific items, which are often challenging to transport and not always relevant.
You can find more information and donate via the DEC here.
Government announces homebuying overhaul to fix country’s ‘broken’ housing system
Emily Sergeant
The Government has announced what it’s calling the biggest shakeup to the homebuying system in this country’s history.
In a bid to ‘rewire a chaotic system which has become a barrier to homeownership for thousands nationwide, the Government has today (Monday 6 October) unveiled proposals that it says will speed up the long-drawn out and costly process of buying a home by four weeks.
The Housing Secretary says this will not only save people money, but unnecessary stress too.
The proposed new plans would see sellers and estate agents required to provide buyers with ‘vital’ information about a property upfront – including the condition of the home, leasehold costs, and chains of people waiting to move.
It’s hoped this will help end any last-minute chain collapses and ultimately give greater confidence to first-time buyers when they’re making one of life’s most important decisions.
The Government has announced plans to fix the country’s ‘broken’ housing system / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
Binding contracts could also be introduced to stop people walking away from agreements after buyers painstakingly spend months in negotiations to hopefully halve the number of failed transactions.
The new reforms are also proposing that prospective buyers are provided with side-by-side information on estate agents and conveyancers, including their track record and expertise, alongside new mandatory qualifications and Code of Practice to drive up standards and work to rebuild trust in the industry.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer took to Twitter this morning to address the proposed new homebuying overhaul, commenting: “I promised that my Government would fix the broken housing system.
“Buying or selling a home will be faster, unlocking the dream of homeownership and allowing hardworking people to focus on the next chapter of their lives. That’s national renewal.”
I promised that my government would fix the broken housing system.
Buying or selling a home will be faster, unlocking the dream of homeownership and allowing hardworking people to focus on the next chapter of their lives.
“Through our Plan for Change, we are putting more money back into working people’s pockets and making a simple dream a simple reality.”
Featured Image – James Feaver (via Unsplash)
News
English rugby legend Lewis Moody reveals MND diagnosis
Danny Jones
Much-loved English rugby legend Lewis Moody has revealed his heartbreaking MND (motor neuron disease) diagnosis.
The Leicester Tigers and Bath icon, who was captain of the Rugby World Cup-winning England squad back in 2003, unfortunately announced to the world that he is now suffering from MND, also known as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
Moody, 47, is just the latest well-known rugby player to have developed the progressive neurological disorder, with both former players and others being forced to retire due to the condition.
The Ascot-born rugby union veteran has admitted that the news has come as a ‘sudden shock’ to him and his family, but has been left moved by the overwhelming wave of positivity he has received since making the health update public.
We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Lewis Moody's MND diagnosis and join the entire rugby community in getting behind Lewis and his family at this extremely difficult time ❤️ pic.twitter.com/46doNRQFvq
Sharing a lengthy message online, Moody wrote: “I’m writing to share some tough news. I have recently been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND). This has been incredibly hard to process and a huge shock to me and my family.
“I feel fit and well in myself, and I’m focused on staying positive, living life and dealing with the changes / will experience as they come.
“I am being well supported by my family, friends and medical professionals, and I’m truly grateful to those who, in their time, helped progress research to support others, like me, living with this disease.”
Notable ex-pros who have sadly passed away from the disease in recent years include Doddie Weir and, of course, Rob Burrow MBE.
There is currently no known cure for MND at present, but as Burrow’s best mate and inspirational teammate, Kevin Sinfield has famously, the belief is that this is because it remains “underfunded” and a breakthrough could still be found.
Speaking to BBC Sport with his long-term partner on Monday, 6 October, ‘Mad Dog Moody’ gave a very open and honest interview about the last few weeks, going from noticing some weakness in his shoulder at the gym to having now been given the tragic diagnosis.
Lewis’ statement continues: “Since retiring from the sport I love, and alongside my wife Annie, I’ve been able to dedicate much of the past 12 years to fundraising for The Lewis Moody Foundation in support of those affected by brain tumours.
“My plan is to continue with this, but to also create an opportunity to support a charity closer to my current situation. I would be so grateful for your help with this and look forward to sharing more, once l am clear on what this looks like.
“For now, please know I feel your love and support; all l ask is that I am given some space to navigate this with my wife and sons, and those closest to us – but without doubt, I will continue to embrace life and grasp opportunities in the same way I always have.
Sharing a post of their own on social media this morning, the Red Roses wrote: “Everyone at England Rugby is saddened to learn that former captain Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
“All of our thoughts are with Lewis, his family and friends as they come to terms with this diagnosis. We will be offering both practical and emotional support, and know the entire rugby community will stand with them at this incredibly difficult time.
“We encourage people to show their support through the fundraising initiatives now being set up and available through GoFundMe.”
Sending our strength and support to Lewis Moody, as well as his family, friends and fans; you can donate to his fundraiser down below.
Emily Sergeant -
15th March 2022 
