Oakham residents have been hosting a range of collections and events to raise funds for Ukraine, from busking to bake sales to clothes collections, and now the Government have released information encouraging Brits to welcome Ukrainian refugees into their homes.

From the 15th of March 2022, UK individuals, charities, community groups & businesses can record their interest in supporting Ukrainians fleeing the war through the new Homes for Ukraine scheme run by the Government.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has said: "The UK is one of the most generous nations in the world and the British public are now being asked to go one step further and open their homes to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

"We have a long history of helping others in their hour of need and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme offers a lifeline to those forced to flee their homes."

This scheme will offer a route to those who want to come to the UK who have someone in the country willing to provide them with a home. It will enable individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to volunteer accommodation and provide a route to safety for Ukrainians, and their immediate family members, forced to escape their homeland.

Sponsors should provide accommodation for as long as they are able, but there is a minimum expectation of 6 months.

Someone is eligible for the scheme if they are a Ukrainian national or the immediate family member of a Ukrainian national, and were resident in Ukraine prior to the 1st of January 2022.

People arriving under this scheme will be able to:

Live and work in the UK for up to three years

Access healthcare, benefits, employment support, education

Access English language tuition. The United Kingdom will welcome as many arrivals as possible, based on the number of sponsors, so residents are encouraged to sign up for the scheme. They can do so through multiple routes: If you have a named person who you wish to sponsor you should get in contact with them directly and prepare to fill in a visa application with all their details and yours. The visa application will go live on Friday the 18th of March 2022. If you don't know anyone who you wish to sponsor you may get in touch with charities, faith groups or local community organisations who are starting to make connections between individuals. You can also record your interest as an individual or as an organisation such as a charity, business, community group. To find out about more about the local work that the people of Rutland have been doing, click here. Alternatively, share what you have done in support of the Ukrainian people by clicking the 'Nub It' button at the top of the page.