Cabinet considers next phase of support for Ukrainians in Norfolk

Norfolk County Council's Cabinet is being asked to consider the next step in the Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will be known as the Move On programme.

The council will continue to provide support, both directly and through its partners and district and borough councils, to both hosts and guests. The new package from central Government is providing funding to support Ukrainian guests to move into their own homes and for housing authorities to purchase properties for the use of refugees.

Councillor Andrew Proctor, leader of Norfolk County Council, said: "Norfolk is proud to be a friendly and open county, which has been able to respond to this crisis and welcome Ukrainian guests here.

"People opened their homes to invite guests in, and, along with our partners, the council has offered a wide range of support, including financial help and providing trusted information, to make Norfolk a welcoming place to settle. There are undoubtedly challenges ahead, particularly in terms of housing and we welcome the support that the government has provided."

Hosts have been eligible to receive a thank you payment from the government of £350 per month, and the county council has increased this payment to £400 per month in recognition of the increased cost of living. From April 2023, hosts of Ukrainian guests who have been in the UK for more than a year will receive a £500 a month thank you payment.

As the next phase of the scheme approaches, the council needs to ensure that appropriate support is in place for guests, as they settle in Norfolk for longer periods of time.

Since March, when the scheme opened in response to the war in Ukraine, Norfolk has welcomed nearly 1,300 Ukrainian refugees to the county. To support them, and the 550 generous hosts, the council has worked with its in-house teams, as well as other public and voluntary sector bodies, to help guests to integrate into our communities.

Cabinet is being asked to acknowledge the work carried out as part of the scheme, and to agree that the scheme will continue to be delivered in the county, by providing a package of support for hosts and guests to enable them to settle into healthy and fulfilling lives in Norfolk.

Cabinet will consider the report when it meets at 10am on Wednesday, January 11th 2023. Watch the meeting, live or afterwards and read the reports.