Information for hosts

We’re contacting hosts within a couple of days of being given your contact information by the Home Office. Your contact information is given to us once hosts have been successfully 'matched' with guests.

When you receive information from us, please do not share it with anyone else. This includes (before your guests arrive):

• a first email sent to you to guide you on starting the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for your household members
• arranging a visit to check your property's suitability for guests

We will then need you to notify us once your guests have arrived by contacting us. This triggers:

• the first £350 payment to your guests
• a Welfare Officer contacting you within a couple of weeks of your guests' arrival to arrange a visit, and to see if the situation is suitable for everyone

After the welfare check, you can start getting your monthly payment of £500. This is paid in arrears, starting the last week of the month of your welfare check.

If your guests stay with you for over 6 months, we will contact you to do a brief welfare visit at that point.

Information about how to notify us about all of the above will be sent to hosts direct by email. 

Payments to Hosts

In South Cambridgeshire, we’re paying £500 per month to all hosts from the start of their hosting. This is in response to the cost of living. This payment is made automatically, after safeguarding and accommodation checks have been made. There is no need to apply or opt-in to receive it.

This payment is available for a maximum of up to 2 years after the guest arrives.

Intercultural awareness

People have different cultural norms. Sharing your home will offer chances to learn about another culture, but it may also bring some challenges. 

• Keep in mind that people may have different diets. Some items that Ukranian guests may like are found in local Polish shops.
• they may only be used to drinking bottled water
• being uncomfortable with 'small talk' such as the weather
• they may not know about local recycling and waste

We suggest asking your guests if they need anything, and checking in with their comfort and needs on a regular basis.

Be mindful that they may have experienced significant trauma, and/or may not be comfortable being too open with a stranger.

Advice for guests looking after their own well-being can be read in Thrive LDN's guidance document.

Once Ukrainian guests arrive in the UK and are staying with their hosts, one of our Welfare Visitors will be in touch within the first 2 or 3 weeks to arrange a visit. This welfare check involves:

• answering any questions hosts and guests have
• signposting to local places for support and community groups
• sharing common host/guest experiences in South Cambridgeshire
• spending time with hosts and guests
• spending time separately with hosts and guests to enable free conversation if needed.

At around 6 months, welfare visitors will contact you again to arrange another visit to check-in. They will also discuss your future plans.

In you have any questions or need support from the welfare visitors, you can email them at hfuliaison@scambs.gov.uk