Starting the Conversation - What happens after six months?

Many sponsorship arrangements have now been in place for a number of months and it's a natural time to consider what happens next.  Many sponsors are planning to continue this arrangement beyond six months and we are very grateful for your continued support.

We’ve heard positive stories of Sponsors having discussions with their guests around their long-term plans such as finding employment or a return to Ukraine, where it is safe to do so. These discussions have enabled the arrangement to continue whilst guests prepare for their next steps.  We strongly recommend that open and honest conversations happen between guests and hosts that enable both parties to plan for what happens next.

Government guidance for hosts and guests set out the options available that can aid these discussions.  If you haven’t already, we encourage you to visit the following websites and read the updated guidance via the following links:

• Guidance for Hosts: When you have sponsored for 6 months: Homes for Ukraine - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  
• Guidance for Guests: Continuing to live with your host or rematching: Homes for Ukraine - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For enquiries around breakdowns in sponsorship arrangements please contact the Resettlement Team by email. If your Guests vacate your property for any reason, please email Ukraine@staffordshire.gov.uk.

The Resettlement Team will discuss the current arrangement and, where necessary, assist with queries regarding rematching to a new host. Guests will be contacted directly, and their wishes and feelings listened to and taken into consideration when looking for potential new hosts, which will be in the vicinity of the initial sponsorship arrangement in Staffordshire. 

Guests will be supported to visit and be introduced to their prospective new host and all new hosts will receive the necessary safeguarding and property checks in advance of them welcoming guests.

In urgent situations where the sponsorship is not able to continue, the guests can contact their local district council and the ukraine@staffordshire.gov.uk email address for advice and support.   

Details of your local council can be found here:

South Staffs: Housing | South Staffordshire District Council (sstaffs.gov.uk)

Lichfield: Housing and homelessness (lichfielddc.gov.uk)

Cannock: Housing | Cannock Chase District Council (cannockchasedc.gov.uk)

Tamworth: Housing | Tamworth Borough Council

East Staffs: Housing and property | ESBC (eaststaffsbc.gov.uk)

Moorlands: Housing - Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (staffsmoorlands.gov.uk)

Stafford: Housing | Stafford Borough Council (staffordbc.gov.uk)

Newcastle: Housing – Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council (newcastle-staffs.gov.uk)

Also see Useful contacts - Homes for Ukraine | Staffordshire Connects