This page contains the latest information in relation to providing support to those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. View this page in Ukrainian (Google translate).
National Government information
The latest national guidance, including information from the Foreign Office is available at Gov.uk - Ukraine news (available in English and Ukrainian).
UK Emergency Travel Documents and Emergency Passports are accepted for exit from Ukraine. If you need such a document, you should call +380 44 490 3660 or +44 (0)1908 516666 and select the option for 'consular services for British nationals.'
If you're abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission (see: Gov.uk - Find a British embassy, high commission or consulate). If you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad, contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London on 020 7008 5000 (24 hours).
Ukraine Family Scheme
The Ukraine Family Scheme closed at 3pm on 19 February 2024. You can no longer apply under this scheme.
Homes for Ukraine
This scheme will allow Ukrainians (and their immediate family members) with no family ties to the UK to be sponsored by individuals or organisations who can offer them a home, such as a spare room or unoccupied residential self-contained unit, for a minimum period of 6 months. People arriving under this scheme will be able to live and work in the UK for up to 18 months and be able to access healthcare, benefits, employment support, education and English language tuition. Individuals and organisations can register interest in being a sponsor at: Gov.uk - Homes for Ukraine: record your interest.
Council contact with and support for residents hosting people from Ukraine
- Bury Council will be notified that the Homes for Ukraine application has been made between yourself as sponsor and the guests you have identified at the time of the submission of the visa application.
- On receipt of notification of this application being submitted, Bury Council will contact you and commence the necessary safeguarding and accommodation checks. As far as possible checks will be made whilst the visa application is being considered.
- Bury Council has no involvement in the visa application process - the checks locally do not determine the visa application and have no impact of the time taken for visa consideration. Bury Council do not get notified of the amount of time it is will take for the visa to be reviewed or granted.
- If you have any queries in relation to a visa application, matching process or arrangements for arrivals please contact the Home Office: Gov.uk - Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)
- If you have any questions about the safeguarding or accommodation checks which will be completed by the council please email ukraine@bury.gov.uk.
Ukraine Extension Scheme
You can apply under the Ukraine Extension Scheme until it closes on 16 May 2024 if one of the following is true:
- you had permission to be in the UK on or between 18 March 2022 and 16 November 2023 – the permission does not need to cover the whole period; or
- you previously had permission to be in the UK and that permission expired on or after 1 January 2022.
You can apply under the Ukraine Extension Scheme for your child born in the UK after 18 March 2022 if one of the following is true:
- you have permission to be in the UK under one of the Ukraine Schemes (including the Ukraine Family Scheme).
- you qualify under the Ukraine Extension Scheme.
This route does not require a UK-based sponsor.
The Ukrainian Extension Scheme will remain open after 16 May 2024 for children who are born in the UK.
If you have been given permission to be in the UK under one of the Ukraine Schemes, you may be able to apply for a further 18 months permission to stay in the UK under the new Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. You’ll be able to apply 3 months before your existing visa is due to expire.
Read more information about applying to the Ukraine Extension Scheme.
Financial and material donations and support
There are a number of charities providing humanitarian relief in Ukraine and with those fleeing the conflict in neighbouring countries. The Disaster Emergency Committee have established a Ukraine Appeal - Donation DEC - Ukraine humanitarian appeal.
Greater Manchester based UK-Med have also established an emergency campaign backed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester. UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity with a team in the Ukraine responding to emergency health needs. More information is available at: UK-Med - Ukraine.
The Polish Integrated Support Centre has co-ordinated large volumes of donations, including across Greater Manchester and within Bury. These are currently being processed in order to be sent onto to the Poland/Ukraine border. A WhatsApp group has been established for individuals who are able to support in a voluntary capacity with sorting donations - please message 07500 632274.
Find out more about how you can make a difference to Ukrainian guests in your local community
This scheme was set up at the start of the conflict in Ukraine to quickly support and host Ukrainian families and people displaced. The initial commitment was for a period of at least 6 months and that time period has now elapsed. Although some hosts have been able to extend their hosting arrangement further and continue to support these families, unfortunately not all have been able to. We now need to ask and support more people to temporarily sponsor and host to come forward and help these unfortunate and displaced people and families. By finding and supporting more sponsors and people in our community, you will receive monthly ‘thank you’ payments to help with any associated costs. If you are interested and would like to talk to somebody about becoming a sponsor or have any additional queries, please email the Ukraine support inbox at ukraine@bury.gov.uk and one of the team will contact you to discuss.
Local information
Information on local community groups, advice, support and guidance is available on The Bury Directory - which has a translation function at the top of the page, which converts each webpage on the site into Ukrainian.