Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme approved by States

Wednesday 04 May 2022

The States will be progressing with the introduction of a Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

The Committee for Home Affairs and the Policy & Resources Committee made the decision following input from other committees, Alderney and Sark and His Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor. Issues surrounding available resources across all service areas were discussed.

Both committees concluded that the Bailiwick has both the capacity and available services to accommodate “at least some” Ukrainian refugees through the sponsorship scheme, in addition to those already approved under the Family Visa scheme.

Further work to finalise the criteria for being a sponsor and providing accommodation to a Ukrainian refugee are being finalised, with details on how the scheme will operate and how applications can be made to follow next week. Before then, the committees have said they are not able to comment further. 

Pictured: Committee for Home Affairs President, Deputy Rob Prow.

Committee for Home Affairs President, Deputy Rob Prow, said: “I want to thank colleagues across all States Committees for their input which has helped us make an informed decision about our ability as a government and as a community, to welcome Ukrainian refugees and provide good standards of support for them within the context of our small Islands and limited resources.

“We are still finalising details but we’re very conscious that those limited resources need to be carefully managed and that some of our own most vulnerable Islanders rely on them, and that is being factored into how the scheme will operate.”

Policy & Resources Committee President, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, added: “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to make the firm decision that the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme will be introduced in the Bailiwick."

Pictured: Policy & Resources Committee President, Deputy Peter Ferbrache.

Deputy Ferbrache continued: “We will work very quickly on finalising the details, conscious that people have waited long enough for clarity on what will happen and when. There is of course a need for speed in responding to this ongoing humanitarian crisis, but we need to do so in a way that ensures the scheme itself and our local essential services can still deliver, and don’t fall over.

“Taking this additional time to carry out that assessment and liaise with other States Committees was therefore right, but I fully appreciate the desire to move faster.”