Use this page to access information and support if you are arriving under the Ukraine Family Visa Scheme, or supporting a family arriving under the scheme.
We welcome all arrivals to Bath and North East Somerset who have arrived under the Family Visa Scheme. We understand that this must be an incredibly difficult time for you, and your family and want to make sure that your time in the area is as comfortable and pleasant as possible.
Please use the following information to help you access the support you may need during your time as part of our community.
Information for arrivals
For help paying for living expenses when you arrive or to help you until your benefits are paid, please call the Welfare Support Team on 01225 477277 or email welfare_support@bathnes.gov.uk
For help with housing, claiming benefits, accessing services or general support, please contact the Community Wellbeing Hub by calling 0300 247 0050 or by emailing CWHBanes@hcrgcaregroup.com
The Community Wellbeing Hub will be able to access an interpreter if needed.
Opening times
Contact the Community Wellbeing Hub on Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9am to 5pm.
The government has produced a helpful Guide for Ukranians arriving in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. The information is still useful for those arriving under the Family Visa Scheme, and is available in Ukrainian and Russian.
If you are supporting Ukrainian guests, the guidance also contains useful information on how to open bank accounts and claim benefits which you may be able to use to support your guest family.
Red Cross guidance
The Red Cross have also issued the following guidance for Ukrainian arrivals:
Barnardo's free helpline
Barnardo's have opened a free helpline that you can use to access therapy, advice and practical support. All services include access to either Ukrainian or Russian interpreters.
Register with a GP
As soon as possible after arrival, please register with a General Practitioner (GP).
You can register with a local GP using the NHS website or the BSW website (Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group)
Get your COVID-19 vaccinations
We encourage all new arrivals to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Find out about how to get vaccinated locally using an NHS walk-in vaccination service.
We are working closely with schools and host families to ensure that school places are available for the Ukrainian children we are welcoming to our area. We do not anticipate issues with finding school places using the normal 'in-year' admissions procedures, as we have been advised by the Department for Education (DFE).
As soon as details of your sponsorship arrangement appear on the government portal, our Education department will be notified of any children arriving under the scheme, along with their age and postcode. Children will be admitted to their nearest schools with available places. Please note that the majority of schools in B&NES manage their own admissions arrangements. Our admissions team have provided extra information to explain the school admission process.
Where this isn't possible, we will look to support you with finding a school with a place. If this isn't feasible, we will look to use admission arrangements within the DFE guidance that would enable schools to agree to admit over their capacity.
If you are sponsoring any children, it would be useful to approach your local school(s) to make initial enquiries.
Pre School/Early Years
Find information on how to access childcare support for two, three and four year olds.