We have all watched in horror at the events unfolding in Ukraine over the last few months, and many of us are eager to help in whatever way we can.

According to the Disasters Emergency Committee, more than 4 million people have fled Ukraine and another 7 million have left their homes to escape the conflict, leading to a huge humanitarian crisis.

Below, we have included some useful resources that can be used by anyone. This information includes families hosting Ukrainian refugees, documents on how to access NHS services in English, Ukrainian and Russian, and local support services in our area.

Homes for Ukraine

The UK government has a dedicated web page for anyone wishing to express their interest in offering accomodation to Ukrainian refugees.

Anyone in the UK with a spare room or home can use this service, as long as:

• you can offer accommodation for at least 6 months
• if you're not a British citizen, but you have leave to remain in the UK for at least 6 months.

For more information on offering housing support, please follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/register-interest-homes-ukraine

Getting Settled in the UK

When Ukrainians arrive in the area, they are likely to need medical attention. Whether this be for physical or mental health needs, it is important that they access NHS services as soon as they feel comfortable to do so.

All new arrivals to the area are encouraged to register with Coleridge Medical Centre, and our Medical Administrators will be more than happy to help. Any new Ukrainian arrivals will not need any special documentation to register with the practice. All registrations can be done online or by requesting a registration form from the reception desk. Translation services are available for anyone who does not speak English as a primary language.

Here are some information leaflets on how to access NHS services in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

The UK government has also released welcome guidance for any Ukrainians arriving in the UK. This is packed full with tips on getting settled in the country, such as getting a national insurance number, finding schools, suitable job sites for getting employment, etc. This document can be found HERE.

Travel Benefits for Ukrainian Refugees

Any Ukrainians arriving in the country will be able to travel free of charge on the national rail network by showing their Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass / ticket showing arrival into the UK. They will have 48 hours from arrival in the UK to complete their journey. For more information regarding rail travel, please follow this link: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ukr-travel.aspx

Free coach travel is also available to Ukrainians arriving in the UK through National Express. Free travel can be arranged from a UK arrival point to another location currently served on the National Express network. Individuals are encouraged to contact National Express in advance to guarantee their journey. As with rail travel, individuals will have 48 hours to make their onward journey from arrival in the country. For more information on traveling with National Express, please follow this link: https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/ukrainian-free-travel

Toadpit Medical Services Events Ltd

Toadpit Medical Services has very kindly been collecting much needed medical supplies and driving them to the Ukrainian border - a journey of up to 30 hours!

They are currently preparing for their 3rd trip, and they still have a list of plenty of supplies needed in Ukraine. Some of these include: