Home Affairs “working at pace” to introduce Ukrainian sponsorship scheme

Tuesday 17 May 2022

The Committee for Home Affairs says it is “working at pace” to develop and introduce a Bailiwick of Guernsey Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme. It follows a decision by both Home Affairs and the Policy & Resources Committee to do so.

The policy will be considered this week and, once implemented, will allow Home Affairs to match refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine with islanders who have said they would be willing to accommodate them.

The policy will seek to ensure that Ukrainians who come to the Bailiwick are safe, while also promoting a positive relationship between the sponsor and the refugee. Additionally, Home Affairs wants to ensure refugees coming to the island have access to appropriate support.

The President of Home Affairs, Deputy Rob Prow, said: “Following our announcement confirming our intention to introduce a tailored Guernsey scheme, work has been focused on developing the policy that underpins the scheme and ensures it is appropriate and in keeping with our obligations as a responsible jurisdiction."

Pictured: Deputy Prow (right) and the President of P&R, Deputy Peter Ferbrache (left), met with charitable organisations last week to develop the scheme.

Deputy Prow continued: “We know there is a strong desire from many in our community for this scheme to be in place as soon as possible and we expect further significant progress imminently, which will then allow us to focus on the process of matching potential sponsors, who have appropriate accommodation available, with Ukrainian beneficiaries.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the charity representatives, who have already done so much to support the settling in of Ukrainians already here as part of the Family Scheme, for the very productive meeting Deputy Ferbrache and I had with them last week. It was very useful and welcomed.”

P&R and Home Affairs have also liaised with representatives from Alderney and Sark to discuss the scheme.