Kind-hearted families and individuals who provide temporary homes to Ukrainians in Trafford will now receive an extra £100 a month from the Council.
Trafford Council took the decision to pay hosts the extra cash as a huge thank you for all their hard work and generosity since the Ukrainians arrived six months ago.
Over 140 hosts in Trafford have volunteered to house more than 300 Ukrainians under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The initial agreement was to provide a home for their Ukrainian guests for a period of six months. For many, the initial six months is coming to an end, but many hosts have generously decided to continue the arrangement to the delight of Trafford Council.
As a result, the Council will now pay hosts who continue sponsoring Ukrainians after six months an extra £100 a month on top of the £350 they will receive each month from the Council, funded by the Government.
Cllr James Wright, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods, said: “Thank you so much to all the hosts who came forward to sponsor Ukrainians when they fled the horrific situation in their country to settle in Trafford. We are so proud of each and every one of you for providing our new friends with a safe haven. You gave a home to so many people who had lost everything and for that we are eternally grateful.
“We decided to give the hosts an extra £100 a month as a thank you for everything they have done and continue to do to for the Ukrainians. We also recognise that we are in the middle of a serious cost of living crisis and that they would need the extra money to continue all their good work. Again, thank you so much for giving our Ukrainian friends a home in Trafford.”
Trafford came together to welcome the Ukrainians with open arms when they arrived in the borough. Trafford Council and its partners from the community and voluntary sectors worked closely together to provide them with everything they needed. The Council – along with its partners – spearheaded a strategic support plan for the refugees which included carrying out accommodation suitability and safeguarding checks, administering Government payments to sponsors, arranging school places for children and helping people with health, benefits and job seeking.
Hundreds of volunteers also worked hard behind the scenes through the Trafford community hub scheme to support our new arrivals. For more information and to donate to a fundraising scheme please go to Ukrainian Response | Trafford hubs
For more information on sponsoring a Ukrainian guest, please go to Homes for Ukraine: record your interest - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Posted on Tuesday 8th November 2022