Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom Vadym Prystaiko has expressed gratitude to the British people who have received Ukrainian refugees as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme over the past year.
This is reported by Ukrinform, referring to the website of the Government of the United Kingdom.
“I am honoured and humbled by your countries generosity and am grateful to all the local councils and all the families who have opened up their homes, their hearts and sometimes wallets to Ukrainians fleeing from the horrors of war. 160,000 Ukrainian women and children have reached British shores and have been welcomed in your communities and schools,” Prystaiko said.
However, in his words, some Ukrainians still need help.
“The unprovoked and unjustified war still rages in the Ukraine and I ask those who can, please come forward and offer your support,” Prystaiko stressed.
Since the Homes for Ukraine scheme was launched, a total of 117,700 Ukrainians have been invited into the homes and hearts of thousands of family homes across the United Kingdom.
According to the data from the Government of the United Kingdom, more than 28,300 Ukrainians of working age (16-64) were in paid employment within around six months of their arrival.
“One year on from the first person arriving in the UK under our Homes For Ukraine Scheme I remain incredibly proud of this country’s response, with the British public having shown their true generosity of spirit and their enduring belief in freedom,” UK Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove noted.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme is a sponsorship programme that allows the citizens of Ukraine and their relatives to come and stay in the United Kingdom for the duration of the war. Ukrainian arrivals are awarded the right to work in the UK for up to three years from arrival and are entitled to the same benefits and support as UK nationals.
