Could you open your home to a Ukrainian refugee?

A handful of Ukrainian families fleeing the war in their homeland are looking for sponsors and a place to stay in Wells.

They include a mother and her 12-year-old son, a family of four whose daughter is boarding at Wells Cathedral School and two retired men who need a sponsor each.

Since the conflict erupted in Ukraine in February, over 7.6 million people have fled from Ukraine into neighbouring countries, the fastest displacement crisis since World War II. The conflict is far from over, and the upcoming winter will make life harder, especially for women and children who comprise most refugees.

The thank you payment for hosting has doubled to £700 per month. The payment is aimed at alleviating some of the financial pressures experienced by hosts as a direct result of offering their homes to Ukrainian guests and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

If you want to offer a home to people fleeing Ukraine, you can become a sponsor as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Use this service to record your interest in becoming a sponsor. This service is for potential sponsors who have not yet been matched with a Ukrainian guest.

If you live in Wells and are in a position to help the refugees looking for a home in the city, please email [email protected] with your full address, number of rooms and beds available, number of guests they can accommodate if children could live there, how close they are to public transport and any other requirements as a host.