My parents first sponsored Ukrainian guests at the start of the war, so I saw secondhand what their experience was like. At that time our kids were still little and we didn’t feel we had the capacity to help. After Christmas 2024 we received a leaflet from our local council saying they were still looking for sponsors, and we now felt called to help. We spoke to a couple of different families online before deciding on a mother and daughter from Korosten.
The daughter is a similar age to our daughter, so we felt we would be best aligned in lifestyles as well as being able to give advice on appropriate schooling and integration. We were right – the girls hit it off right away, despite the language barriers. They communicate through songs, Minecraft and Google Translate. They have both integrated into our daily life seamlessly and it really feels like we have simply expanded our family.
We have assisted them with all their application forms (visas, healthcare and school, bank accounts etc) as well as showing them our local area and importantly a trip around the sites of London (the mother squealed with glee on her first sight of a London bus!).
The experience has been incredibly rewarding – of course it’s a lot of effort at first with all the set-up, language barrier, and a gamble not knowing if your personalities will gel, but you get to see our world fresh through their eyes – which really makes you step back and appreciate the freedoms, facilities and opportunities we have in our lives here in the UK. The daughter said to her mum “mum why is everyone here so kind?” and for me, this was the ultimate reward.
As their visa sponsors, we have agreed to have them live with us for at least six months, or until they find their own accommodation. Right now, I would say yes, I’d certainly consider doing this again (though I will have to see how my family feels after we have completed our sponsorship of this family). I see so many more Ukrainians still looking for homes online and I just want to help all of them!
I highly recommend the experience to anyone who is considering it – you simply join the Homes for Ukraine Facebook page to find a match. I’d be more than happy to talk through the process with anyone else considering it.
On a personal level, I have deep gratitude for the things we so often take granted – freedom, living in a country without war, safety for myself and my family – and increased appreciation for taking a London bus!
“The experience has been incredibly rewarding... you get to see our world fresh through their eyes – which really makes you step back and appreciate the freedoms, facilities and opportunities we have in our lives here in the UK.”