Homes for Ukraine: local information for guests

The government has guidance for people from Ukraine living in the UK including a welcome guide for those arriving on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

There is a separate welcome guide for unaccompanied children. 

Our own welcome pack for guests contains details of local organisations and information about South Gloucestershire.

Our partner organisation Julian House is supporting our guests from Ukraine.

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Local services

Your host or the people helping you to settle into your home, will help you to access local services including: 

  • enrolling your children in local schools 
  • classes to learn English if you need to 
  • access to financial support such as Universal Credit and other benefits
  • the local job centre and opportunities for local employment 
  • registering with a doctor

To understand your entitlement to health services you can download a guide on How the NHS works (in Ukrainian) or How the NHS works (in Russian). 

You will find help and advice on our other pages such as welfare grants, universal credit and financial support for residents.

If you need advice you can visit one of our One Stop Shops in Kingswood, Patchway or Yate for support in person. Book an appointment with our customer advisors by emailing OSSAppointments@southglos.gov.uk. 

If your host or the One Stop Shop is unable to answer your query please contact us at HomesforUkraine@southglos.gov.uk

Places of worship

There are places of worship for different faiths in the district:

Transport

Travel West has information on local public transport including walking and cycling routes for work and leisure.

Buses

First Bus runs bus services to Bristol and the main towns of South Gloucestershire.

Coach

National Express runs coach services city to city.

Rail

Bristol Parkway train station in Stoke Gifford, provides fast links to London, Birmingham, Cardiff and Southampton. Other stations in the district such as Filton Abbey Wood and Yate provide services to help people get to work in the cities of Bath and Bristol. You can find information on train times and tickets on National Rail.

Road

The M4, M5 and M49 motorways run through South Gloucestershire providing access by car to London in 2 hours, Birmingham in one and a half hours, Cardiff in under one hour. The M32 gives access from the M4 directly to central Bristol.

Air

Air: Bristol Airport offers flights to more than 100 European and international destinations. The UK’s major airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, are in London.

Things to do

There is lots to do in South Gloucestershire. There is a large shopping centre, cinema and leisure area at Cribbs Causeway, historic market towns such as Thornbury, Chipping Sodbury and Marshfield, leisure attractions such as Bristol Zoo Project, Planet Ice and The Wave and beautiful countryside to explore.

Find other things to do on MySouthGlos

Check our libraries webpage for information about your local library for book loans, events and access to computers and the internet.

Education, jobs and skills

Borderlands helps with educational classes and mentoring.

Community Learning Team have courses throughout the year for adults.

Groundworks – Impact Bristol has educational classes and advice.

Job Centres help you to apply for benefits and search for jobs.

School places in South Gloucestershire has information on how to apply for a school place for your child.

SGS College has free education courses in learning English, Maths and other subjects.

Financial support

Citizen Advice offers advice and help with applying for benefits and understanding your rights as a citizen. There are offices in Yate, Kingswood and Thornbury.

Financial support has advice on accessing financial support including welfare grants and universal credit. To book an appointment with our customer advisors contact OSSAppointments@southglos.gov.uk

Health and wellbeing

Active Lifestyle Centres have gyms, swimming pools and classes you can use if you take up membership. 

Breastfeeding Support Service helps women to breastfeed their babies in weekly clinics or group support.

Find a GP will help you find a local doctor to access medical advice and other National Health Services.

Haven Health Centre can provide health assessments to you if you have recently arrived and make onward referrals to other services through your GP.

Health visitors provide support for new mothers until her child starts school. They can give you support and information about becoming a parent, the wellbeing of your family and the development of your child. 

Healthy Start can help you to buy food, milk and vitamins.

Mind You provides mental health support to young adults and children.

NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Information has advice on who can get a vaccination and how to book an appointment.

One You can help you to improve your physical health.

School Health Nursing service is available to all children and young people between the ages of 5-19 years. School Health Nurses provide health information and health improvement initiatives in school settings. They offer advice and support around; emotional health, healthy eating, healthy relationships, dental health, drugs, alcohol and smoking, physical health concerns, LGBTQ+, sleep, continence.

Well Aware provides information on a wide range of organisations, support groups, community groups, events, and activities in South Gloucestershire.

Practical help and support

Aid Box Community can provide practical support and free clothing and supplies.

Ashley Community Housing help to support you as you settle into your host’s home with Julian House and the Care Forum.

Bristol Refugee Rights provides educational classes, informal support sessions and advice.

Carers Support Centre offers support and advice for people who provide care for others.

Julian House provides support to you as you settle into your host’s home. They work with ACH and the Care Forum.

Refugee Women of Bristol provides support to women through educational classes, wellbeing sessions and advice.

Revive: the reuse shop in Thornbury can provide furniture, kitchen utensils and other essential items for your new home. Make an appointment through your sponsor.

SARI will support you and your family if you experience hate or intolerance.

School Meals are available to pupils whose families are in receipt of certain benefits such as support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Southern Brooks Community partnership can link you to food banks or other community services.

The Care Forum works with Julian House and ACH to support you to settle in UK.

Womankind offer counselling and befriending services to women in who have been the victims of sexual or domestic abuse or trauma.

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