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Bedford Borough has a long history of being open and welcoming to migrants and refugees. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the desperate situation in Ukraine and we are ready and willing to welcome and support families fleeing the country. We will do all we can to support organisations working in the UK and abroad to help.

We have produced some information and guidance for Ukrainians and residents, please check back as this page is being updated regularly.

Information and support for Ukrainians

If you are still in Ukraine, help and support is available:

If you have arrived in Bedford Borough and have nowhere to live please contact our Housing Team on 01234 718008 or email ukrainesupport@bedford.gov.uk.

Once you have found somewhere to live this welcome pack for Ukrainians arriving in the UK covers what you need to know in your first few days, getting used to life in the UK including how to access healthcare, childcare, education services, and how to find work.

You can also read Bedford Borough’s Welcome Pack (PDF).

See also this information from British Red Cross which explains your rights and gives information on services you can access.

Bedford Borough Council is working in partnership with PBIC to help and support Ukrainian guests and Homes for Ukraine sponsors in Bedford Borough. Please see the PBIC website for further details and how to access its support. 

eVisa

Anyone who uses a physical immigration document, like a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), to prove their immigration status and who doesn’t already have a UKVI account, will need to act now to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. 

See more information on our Online immigration status (eVisa) webpage.

More help and support is available from:

Information for Bedford Borough residents wanting to become a host/sponsor

The Homes for Ukraine programme enables UK residents to volunteer accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. If you want to offer a home to people fleeing Ukraine, you can become a ‘sponsor’ as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

To apply to be a sponsor you must be able to offer accommodation in a spare room or separate self-contained accommodation for a minimum of six months.

We will complete property and safeguarding checks on sponsors who have successfully sponsored a Ukrainian after their visa application has been made.

If you do not know a named Ukrainian you will only be able to record your interest in becoming a sponsor. The government will try to match you to a Ukrainian via charities and other organisations.

You can also contact charities directly who may be able to match you to an individual or family. Some charities that are doing this include:

Further guidance for sponsors:

If you already know a Ukrainian national (or immediate family member) who you want to sponsor, you can help them apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

Help and support when you are hosting

You can email ukrainesupport@bedford.gov.uk or phone 01234 718008 for more information.

  • We will provide a school places for children of school age and we will be given extra funding so that it does not impact the school places of children currently in Bedford Borough.
  • We will provide advice and referrals to public health services where appropriate, such as mental health services, adult social care, and children’s services.
  • We will provide an interim support payment of £200 to your guest.
  • We will administer optional ‘thank you’ payments of £350 per month to sponsors.

'Thank you' payments

Sponsors will receive £350 a month during the first 12 months of their guests’ stay. This increases to £500 once the guest has been in the UK for 12 months.

Thank you payments are available to sponsors for the duration of a guest’s Homes for Ukraine visa permission. This is  up to 36 months for sponsors of guests on a three year Homes for Ukraine visa, and up to 18 months for guests on the new 18 month Homes for Ukraine visa (which came into effect on 19 February 2024). This is intended to support existing hosts, and to help new hosts to offer support to Ukrainians in the UK who may need a new place to stay, and to give guests who may need it more time to get ready to move into independent accommodation.

Bedford Borough Council is adding a discretionary increase to the 'thank you' payment of £150 to those sponsors whose guests have been residing with them for less than 12 months. The additional funding comes from a special grant to help with the Homes for Ukraine scheme, taking the total up to £500 per household.

The 'thank you' payment will be issued one month in arrears after your guests have arrived and following checks being carried out by the Council, which will include a visit to your home.

The top-up payments are tax-free and should not affect entitlement to benefits or Council Tax status.

Changes to eligibility for the 'thank you' payments from 1 October 2024

From 1 October 2024, sponsors/hosts of new arrivals are not eligible to receive thank you payments for hosting a close family member who moves into their home in the UK.  This change applies to payment claims taking place from this date, irrespective of visa application dates.

Close family members include:

  • a spouse, or civil or unmarried partner
  • a parent
  • a parent-in-law
  • a son or daughter
  • a son or daughter-in-law
  • a step-son or step-daughter
  • a sibling
  • a grandparent
  • or the spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner of any of these people

Apply for the 'thank you' payment

You can apply for the 'thank you' payment using the online form below.

Apply for the 350 'thank you' payment.

See Paying sponsors: Homes for Ukraine for more information on 'thank you' payments.

Renting private accommodation

You may decide to move out of accommodation with your sponsor and into private rented accommodation or council housing. See Renting private accommodation: Homes for Ukraine for more information.

Further support and how to become a Ukrainian guest support volunteer

We are working with The Harpur Trust and PBIC to coordinate care and support for guests from Ukraine arriving in Bedford Borough. 

Visit PBIC to find out about how to access its support services as a Ukrainian guest or becoming a Ukrainian guest support volunteer or email them at UGV@pbic.org.uk. 

Translations and interpreters

Ukrainian to English language support - including translations of key documents needed for visa applications - is available from Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI).

How to make a donation

You can donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.