Homestay and Befriending Programme Update – Friday 1st April 2022
Thank you to everyone who has registered generous offers of accommodation, skills and support. Please know that we are keeping track of all offers, but we are unable to reply individually due to the volume which we have received.
We have helped match several families already, around 20 people aged from 4 to 69 years, and we are working on more matches. The challenge we have, however, is housing larger families – typically grandmother, mother/aunt/sister and children.
We have a surfeit of offers of one and two bedrooms, but we need bigger accommodation to keep the families together, many of which include young children. So if we have not contacted you yet, that is the reason.
Another issue that has arisen is that people arriving need to be close to York (and Selby, where there is also a Ukraine community) to access services and be close to their community. Thus, offers in rural villages are kind, but accommodation in the main centres are given priority.
I hope this update explains a little of what has been going on behind the scenes. It has been heartening to see such generosity from York.
if you have larger accommodation (more than 2 bedrooms) in York or Selby, please contact us
If you have independent houses or flats to offer, especially in or close to York and Selby, please also contact us
If you have offered teaching, language help, counselling or another professional skill, we have noted this and will be in touch when needed
If you have offered befriending or other services/donations, we will be in touch if needed
And finally, if you have one or two bedrooms to offer, maybe contact neighbours to see if they would also take Ukraine refugees. We might be able to then share the families but keep them close to one another
We are leading the matching process in partnership with the City of York Council. Any questions, please email [email protected]
