The ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia is already having wide reaching implications, including for residents and businesses in Stevenage.

The Council is monitoring events closely and will continue to take appropriate action in response.

For more information about the support available, or action you can take to support the people of Ukraine, please see the following links (this list will be updated as the situation continues to develop).

Support for the people of Ukraine

Stevenage stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian community in Stevenage.

Moving to the UK

Hertfordshire County Council have produced a Welcome Pack for Ukrainian families in Hertfordshire

What you can do

If you want to help, the most effective action you can take is to make a financial donation to one of the charities listed below. This is because collecting supplies can be a complex and slow in comparison to the more immediate impact that financial donations can have on those in need.

• Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
• Ukraine Crisis Appeal (British Red Cross)
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
• Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain
• Save the Children Ukraine Appeal

Any amount you can give will go a long way to helping those in need. We encourage you to check the government’s guidance on safe giving before you donate.

Support available to Ukrainian nationals

The Department for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities have announced plans for a sponsorship scheme for Ukrainians without any family ties to the UK. The “Homes for Ukraine” scheme allows individuals, charities, community groups and businesses across the UK to offer a room or home rent-free to Ukrainians escaping the war, regardless of whether they have ties to the country.

If you wish to register your interest please visit the Government’s Homes for Ukraine website.

If you have any questions about sponsorship requirements please visit the Homes for Ukraine Frequently Asked Questions.

Guidance is available on existing visa routes and the support available to Ukrainian nationals and their family members as part of the Ukrainian Family Scheme.

Barnardo’s has set up the Ukrainian Support Helpline, 0800 148 8586, to provide a holistic support service. The helpline is available to anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

The free helpline is staffed by English, Ukrainian and Russian speakers, to offer support to children and families arriving in the UK from Ukraine. The helpline is open Monday - Friday (10am – 8pm) and Saturday (10am - 3pm). Callers will be able to get help and advice on a range of issues.

A dedicated email address ukrainiansupport@barnardos.org.uk and webpage, Barnardo’s Ukrainian Support Helpline have also been set up.

Support for Sponsors

If you are sponsoring a family from Ukraine, Gov.uk has information to help you support your guests to adapt to life in the UK.

• Homes for Ukraine sponsor guidance
• Support for sponsors hosting people from Ukraine
• Information for guests about their future in the UK

Your guest(s) must have applied for a biometric residence permit (BRP) within six months of arriving in the UK. If they haven't yet applied they can book an appointment online on the Gov.uk website.

What we are doing

The ongoing invasion of Ukraine is anticipated to have wide reaching implications for residents and businesses in Stevenage. We are monitoring events closely and will continue to take appropriate action in response. This includes potential economic, service demand, regulatory, and workforce impacts, and working with local partners including the Local Resilience Forum and Hertfordshire County Council and local voluntary organisations to ensure a coordinated response.

Under an urgent motion made at the Full Council meeting on 9 March 2022 the council unanimously agreed to express its strong solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine and agrees that this be expressed on behalf of the Council and the people of Stevenage.

At the Solidarity with Ukraine event on 4 March, £260 was raised for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal through the sale of Ukrainian coloured ribbons.

Government Advice

If you have friends and family in Ukraine and need information or support about what is happening, please contact the Ukrainian Embassy

A summary of Government advice and actions in relation to Ukraine can be seen on the Gov.uk website.

There is specific advice on travelling to Ukraine

The Department for Business, Energy and Innovation (BEIS) has issued a factsheet on Russia-Ukraine and UK energy supply