Communities for Ukraine is a pioneering new refugee sponsorship programme, which will welcome over 1,000 Ukrainian refugees to the UK through civil society organisations, including faith groups, schools and universities. Donate to Citizens UK resettlement fund to help us find a safe home for those fleeing conflict.
You’re looking at footage of Ukraine and once again, feeling helpless. We are not helpless. Citizens across the country have stepped up before to create a movement to welcome refugees and we’re going to do it again.
Citizens UK are pioneers of refugee community sponsorship schemes in the UK, and we find and train partner organisations in the community to ensure that the matches are safe, supported and sustainable.
The Communities for Ukraine programme is a collaboration between two charities, Citizens UK and Ukrainian Sponsorship Pathway UK (USPUK), that have been awarded ‘Recognised Provider’ status by the UK Government to match refugees with host sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The programme provides an ‘end-to-end’ supported process for Ukrainians and gives dignity and agency to refugees from the time they consider coming to the UK, through to their arrival and resettlement in a new home. This is made possible by the crucial role of strategic partner organisations which each commits to finding hosts for 50 refugees in their network.
"I'm so full of emotions. But most of all, I'm extremely happy to be here. Our host seems very kind and the children are pleased to be in Britain."
- Iryna, one of the first Ukrainian refugees resettled through the Communities for Ukraine scheme along with her husband and 3 children.
Citizens UK is providing strategic partners with training and policies and processes for local host sponsors, ensuring the learning and experience from resettling dozens of Syrian refugees over the past 5 years through their Sponsor Refugees project is passed on to those who have offered to host Ukrainians.
Communities for Ukraine’s end-to-end supported process provides:
- outreach and language support to Ukrainians in need, in Poland and wherever they are displaced;
- a process to recruit, vet and train host sponsors at scale and to a high standard through a trusted civil society organisation;
- matching service with translation support to link refugees and hosts;
- support in applying for visas;
- free flights with Wizz Air (courtesy of funding from The Shapiro Foundation).
All funds raised will go towards helping refugee families find safety in the UK.
Read about one family's journey through the Communities for Ukraine scheme here.
We must respond now. We can't do this without your help.
Thank you from all of the team at Citizens UK - we've been overwhelmed with all the support we've received already. Together, we can be ready to react to a situation that is changing by the minute.