Elmbridge Council Offers £600 Monthly Payment to New Hosts for Ukrainian Refugees

Elmbridge Borough Council is now providing a monthly “thank you” payment of £600 to new volunteers who host Ukrainian families. This financial support is offered to individuals opening their homes to Ukrainians, acknowledging the rising cost-of-living. Since the program’s launch in March 2022, over 300 households in Elmbridge have accommodated and assisted nearly 600 displaced Ukrainians. The latest initiative focuses on families or individuals already living in Elmbridge who need to transition from their current host arrangements. “People don’t do it to make money,” stated Jeannie Tweedie, Co-director of Elmbridge CAN, a small charity that facilitates the welcome of refugees into the borough. She added, “But with bills and increased costs in the household with having somebody else there, it’s really good that the money from the council is available.” She informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service that her aim is to reassure people and potential hosts that “it’s not all on them” and “there’s a community around to support them.” ElmbridgeCAN, established in 2016 to address the Syrian refugee crisis, strives to bring the community together to aid newcomers with their integration. The charity manages welcome hubs, employs two support workers for interpreting services, and maintains a host support network. Ms. Tweedie remarked, “We have about 100 volunteers who give a lot of time to help [refugees] into jobs and help them to understand life is like here as well as running community English lessons.”