Finding a family

It is recommended that you don't limit yourself to one method of finding a Ukrainian family to sponsor as, unless you are very lucky, you probably won't succeed for a long time. The whole process of looking can be very demoralised and time consuming, but it does work in the end as there are so many people out there wanting safety.

School places in the Chew Valley are very tight at the moment and there are many schools where particular year groups are full. As a result it is important to avoid starting discussions with families with children who we know now cannot get a place near to where you live. As a result you will need to check availability of places at a very early stage. Click here for more information, including how to do this.

Websites that can help you find a Ukrainian/Ukrainian family

• www.homesforukraine.org.uk Operated by Reset UK an established Refugee support charity and recommended by Sanctuary Foundation – they do the matching, but although many in our network have signed up, no one has been contacted with a referral yet.

• https://www.ukrainetakeshelter.com International portal set up by 2 Harvard students. You log what you have available and Ukrainians contact you – good idea to get a Telegram account (Ukrainian version of WhatsApp) and specify that’s how to contact. One member of our network has had success

• https://ukraina.space/en/ a Ukrainian portal matching people with European hosts. You can search for those looking for accommodation in the UK or post your offer and wait and see who contacts you

• https://homesforukraine.opora.uk/Login.asp Known as the Opora site. This is a portal designed around UK scheme run by Ukrainian charity. Both sponsors and sponsees can post and search. One member of our network has had success

• https://shelter4ua.com/en (or Facebook group here) worldwide Shelter portal. You input your offer and wait for Ukrainians to contact you.

Various Facebook Groups where you can post your own offering or respond to Ukrainian posts:

Local Facebook Groups

• Ukrainians in Bristol – one of our members found a family through this site https://www.facebook.com/groups/1819339348328574

• Bristol and Somerset for Ukrainian Refugees - small site but good for our area https://www.facebook.com/groups/bristol.and.somerset.for.ukrainian.refugees

• LoveBristol, a charity that has been sending supplies to Ukraine and is now at the Polish Border helping refugees including matching with sponsors, has a Google form to fill in and they will try to match you here's the form

National Facebook Groups

• Sponsor Ukrainian Refugee UK https://www.facebook.com/groups/499670758417483/

• Rooms/Accommodation for Ukrainian refugees https://www.facebook.com/groups/444822307433609

• Offer a bed in your home for Ukrainian refugees https://www.facebook.com/groups/636888250932802

• Help for Ukrainians in UK https://www.facebook.com/groups/927852904567703

• Accommodation, Help & Shelter for Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/groups/699929631375624

• UK Accommodation for Ukrainian Refugees https://www.facebook.com/groups/1161142981324270

• Accommodation and Transport for Ukrainians https://www.facebook.com/groups/967002083935140

• Sunflower Sisters Ukraine/UK – women only group, Ukrainians post, plus lots of helpful posts from people going through the same process as us https://www.facebook.com/groups/655548835724227

Through contacts and referrals:

• We have contacts with a Polish Charity running a refugee camp who are now starting to refer Ukrainians to us - until very recently most Ukrainians there wanted to stay put, close to the border, but as Poland gets fuller and fuller, they are starting to look further afield

• We have built up a number of other contacts with Ukrainians, either based here or via Ukrainians families who have already arrived.

• Some Facebook pages are starting to match people, often because Ukrainians are concerned about publicly posting. We have developed contacts with the Admins of these Facebook pages and get referrals through that route.

Once a referral comes through, you will be contacted if your accommodation offer looks as if it might fit.