Find out how to become one of Buckinghamshire’s Ukraine Rematching Sponsors at your local library
The generosity of Buckinghamshire residents to support the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, set up in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has been invaluable.
Locally, more than 700 sponsors have already welcomed over 1,500 Ukrainian guests providing not just accommodation, but a warm welcome, a network of support and help with settling into the UK.
While many residents are happy to extend their sponsorship agreement, for some it isn’t feasible to continue beyond the first six months – which is why there is an immediate requirement to encourage and support people to register their interest in becoming Rematching Sponsors.
A Rematching Sponsor is a sponsor who agrees to host an individual guest or guest family after their original sponsorship placement has ended. As the guest or guest family has already been in Buckinghamshire, lots of the essential steps to help them settle have already been completed.
To promote the benefits of rematching, a series of information events will be taking place at Buckinghamshire Council’s libraries between Tuesday 14 March and Thursday 30 March. The events will provide people in Buckinghamshire with a fantastic opportunity to speak face-to-face with one of the council’s Ukraine Rematching experts, find out more about the process of becoming a Rematching Sponsor, and see the support available to sponsors to make a difference to Ukrainian guests in Buckinghamshire communities.
Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, commented:
"We’re dedicated to supporting our arriving guests and sponsors through every step of the transition process. From providing home visits and safeguarding checks to administering sponsor thank you payments and offering additional support through our local Community Boards – we’re committed to making this process as smooth as possible. We're also proud to have helped 675 Ukrainian children find school places and early education, ensuring that families can quickly and easily settle into their new homes.
"Since our last Rematching Sponsor appeal in November 2022, our dedicated team has been able to facilitate 30 rematches and we’re expecting further demand for rematching placements. So if you’re interested in becoming a Rematching Sponsor, then the library roadshows are a great opportunity to speak with one of our experts and hear about the benefits of rematching."
Find out more about how to become a Rematching Sponsor.