What is the difference between the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme?

Those applying under the Ukraine Family Scheme must be applying to join or accompany a UK-based family member. The Homes for Ukraine scheme is for Ukrainians who have matched with people in the UK willing to sponsor them and provide suitable accommodation for a minimum of six months.

You can find information about how the Homes for Ukraine scheme will work on the government website.

Read this factsheet, which explains how Ukrainians can apply for the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Find out more information on being a sponsor on the Government website.

If you live in Croydon and have applied to be a sponsor 

Homes for Ukraine is a government scheme, with local councils responsible for carrying out essential background checks and providing support to sponsors and their guests at a local level.

Croydon Council will be responsible for:

  • accommodation and safeguarding checks
  • support arrangements for guests and their hosts
  • providing education
  • homelessness assistance
  • social care services for children and adults
  • interim payments for guests arriving under the Homes for Ukraine scheme
  • support with finding employment
  • welcoming our guests and helping them to settle into our community

We will arrange and meet the cost of the checks - you will not be asked to pay a fee or make a payment of any kind, as part of becoming a sponsor. Any requests for you to do so will likely be a scam and should be reported. Read more on how to report scams.

We are contacting all sponsors by email from homes.ukraine@croydon.gov.uk.

All sponsors receive two emails:

  • the first email is from our Chief Executive, Katherine Kerswell, thanking residents for registering to become sponsors as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme and outlining the next steps
  • the second email is from our Director of Public Health, Rachel Flowers, with information about the home visits along with some forms that need to be completed to progress the home visits.

If you can no longer be a sponsor

Please inform the UK Visas and Immigration service (UKVI) by calling the helpline on 0808 164 8810 and email us at homes.ukraine@croydon.gov.uk so we can update our records. 

Will my council tax discount be affected if I sponsor?

Council tax discounts will not be affected if you sponsor.

Before your guests arrive

My Ukrainian guests are due to arrive soon and I haven’t had my home visit. What do I do?

Please continue your plans with your Ukrainian guests. There may be some cases where the home visit will happen after guests have arrived. Please email homes.ukraine@croydon.gov.uk to let us know the expected arrival date of your guests. We will prioritise home visits where guests have already arrived or will be arriving soon.

I can't complete the home visit forms. What do I do?

When you open the forms and click on each section either a dropdown box or space to enter text should appear. If you are experiencing an error then please email homes.ukraine@croydon.gov.uk to let us know. We can still arrange your home visit and we will ask the officer conducting the visit to bring the forms so they can be completed during the visit.

Where can I access information in order to support my Ukrainian guests effectively?

We Have put together  a welcome pack that will provide some key local information and contacts to help Ukrainian guests settle in and get to know the borough:

There is also a government guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK, which contains a range of information. Links to the guide in English, Ukrainian, and Russian are below:

You can find more information, help and support on GOV.UK.

I already have a DBS check. Do I need to have another one?

We have to undertake DBS checks even if people already have them. This will be done as part of the wellbeing visit stage. 

My Ukrainian guests are due to arrive soon and I haven’t had my home visit. What do I do?

Please continue your plans with your Ukrainian guests. There may be some cases where the home visit will happen after guests have arrived. Please email homes.ukraine@croydon.gov.uk to let us know the expected arrival date of your guests. We will prioritise home visits where guests have already arrived or will be arriving soon.

I can't complete the home visit forms. What do I do?

When you open the forms and click on each section either a dropdown box or space to enter text should appear. If you are experiencing an error then please email homes.ukraine@croydon.gov.uk to let us know. We can still arrange your home visit and we will ask the officer conducting the visit to bring the forms so they can be completed during the visit.

Where can I access information in order to support my Ukrainian guests effectively?

We Have put together  a welcome pack that will provide some key local information and contacts to help Ukrainian guests settle in and get to know the borough:

There is also a government guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK, which contains a range of information. Links to the guide in English, Ukrainian, and Russian are below:

You can find more information, help and support on GOV.UK.

I already have a DBS check. Do I need to have another one?

We have to undertake DBS checks even if people already have them. This will be done as part of the wellbeing visit stage.