Published:
2:47 PM March 30, 2022
A new website has been set up to provide residents wishing to offer refuge to Ukrainian refugees with the latest information.
The Devon team, which includes Devon County Council, East Devon, Central Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge and Torridge District Councils, England Borough Council West Devon and Exeter City Council, condemned Russia’s actions when it first invaded Ukraine.
The authorities are providing particular support to families in Devon whose relatives in Ukraine are fleeing the conflict, as well as to households volunteering to host refugees.
The councils’ support to Ukraine follows their previous commitment, alongside partners in the health and voluntary sector and local communities, to help Syrian families and those fleeing the conflict in Afghanistan.
The county council is receiving the latest information from the government about sponsors who have signed up, and DBS checks on sponsoring families are underway.
And Devon District Authorities use a common approach to assess each sponsor’s accommodation, which will help to better assess potential safeguard risks.
All information is posted on the new site, which means users have a one-stop shop for updates.
Devon District Forum Chairman Councilor Bob Deed said: “The fighting continues to have a devastating impact on civilians, and we have a moral duty to support families fleeing Ukraine to join members of their family here in the UK.
“There has been a huge outpouring of goodwill with many Devon residents signing up to help register more every day, and now we are focused on ensuring that refugees can join their families as quickly and as safely as possible.
“The safety and well-being of those we host is one of our top priorities, and we have already made good progress in this regard.
“As soon as we receive any new information or guidance from the government, we will post it on the website.”
Comments are closed.