Supporting Ukraine
We stand with Ukraine
We stand with the UK government and its international partners in condemning the Russian government for its unprovoked war against Ukraine. The UK government is providing a range of assistance to Ukraine. (opens new window)
Guidance on support available to Ukrainian nationals and their family members is available by visiting the government website. (opens new window)
The Government has also set up a guidance for charities and trusties responding to the crisis in Ukraine.
Surrey County Council offers support on how to access essential public services, healthcare, education and social services across Surrey.
If you have a question regarding local support for Ukrainians, email ukraine@guildford.gov.uk.
Become a Homes for Ukraine sponsor
Help someone fleeing Ukraine
The Homes for Ukraine Scheme offers Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members a way to come to the UK. If you are willing to provide them with a spare room or self-contained accommodation, you may become their sponsor (if they apply to come to the UK) or host (if they already have a valid Homes for Ukraine visa).
Sponsors need to be British or Irish citizens or settled in the UK (which means having the right to live in the UK permanently) on the date of the guest's visa application. There is no such requirement for hosts.
For more information on how the scheme operates, accommodation and safeguarding checks, and advice for sponsors see Homes for Ukraine: sponsor guides
You can use the link below if you want to host someone who is already in the UK or you need help with matching with a person/ family from Ukraine.
Register your interest to become a Homes for Ukraine sponsor (opens new window)
If you already know who you want to sponsor, you can help them apply for a visa.
Special rules apply in the following situations:
Children being sponsored by a parent or legal guardian
Council checks
We will be contacting you shortly after receiving your application. We are responsible for protecting guests who come to our borough through the scheme, conducting accommodation, safeguarding and welfare checks in line with the guidelines set out by the Government.
Whether any of these checks raise major concerns, we will take extra care to review and assess your application. We will work with Surrey County Council to make sure that we are being fair and consistent. There is no right of appeal, and our decision will be final.
Thank you payments
Sponsors/hosts of Ukrainian guests on a Homes for Ukraine visa who are eligible and pass all relevant checks can apply for a monthly Thank you payment paid in arrears. The current government funded rate is £350 a month per household. However, it has been agreed that Surrey County Council will continue to top up this payment until March 2026 to enable all sponsors/ hosts to receive an increased Thank you payment of a total of £600 whilst they are eligible for them.
Sponsors/ hosts will not receive Thank You Payments if they have or form a close family relationship with their guest, including romantic relationship of any duration. This applies to new arrivals, those guests who are already in the UK and move in with a close family member, and those who return after temporary absence in the UK for more than 28 days.
Sponsors/ hosts will not receive Thank you payments if they charge their guest rent, ask for excessive contributions for food/ utilities or request their guest to do unpaid work.
Hosts who move with guests within the borough do not have to reapply for Thank you payments, while those who move to us from another borough will have to make a new application.
When your guest leaves or is temporarily absent
You are responsible for letting us know by sending an email to ukraine@guildford.gov.uk when your guest leaves permanently or for more than 28 days. Failure to do so may result in an overpayment and us requesting that funds are recovered.
In case of temporary absence Thank you payments will be paused and can be reinstated when your guest returns unless your guest is closely related to you.
Toolkits for sponsors
Organisations experienced in supporting new arrivals in the UK have produced toolkits to help new sponsors. These toolkits give a general overview and advice about being a sponsor and a host:
Find out how we use your personal data through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Guidance for Ukrainian nationals living in the UK
The government's guidance offers comprehensive information for Ukrainian nationals arriving in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme available in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
Homes for Ukraine: Guidance for guests (opens new window)
Your arrival in Guildford
We expect that your sponsor notifies us of your arrival using our email address ukraine@guildford.gov.uk. If it is your first arrival under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, you will be eligible for a £200 welcome payment from us.
We will also set up a welfare visit in order to see how you are settling in and signpost you to local support groups and services.
Staying with a sponsor/host after six months and ongoing support
Your sponsor/host may be happy for you to continue to stay with them for longer. Not every sponsor/host will be able to offer accommodation after six months. We encourage guests to plan with their sponsor/host for what happens next.
Staying with a sponsor/host as a lodger
If your sponsor/host wants to charge you rent and opt out of Thank you payments, you may rent a room in their house under the Rent a Room Scheme.
You can find advice on lodging on these webpages: Lodging and subletting - Citizens Advice and Lodgers - Shelter England.
Finding a new host
We have a limited supply of alternative hosts on the rematching register. You will be prioritised by risk or emergency basis.
We suggest that your look for a new host among your friends, relatives and colleagues, local faith and community groups, etc. Please note that a host does not need to be a British or Irish citizen or settled in the UK.
You should contact a relevant local council to formalise rematching and conduct necessary checks on your new host before you move in. If you have moved to a UPE visa, you can be rematched only if you previously had a Homes for Ukraine visa and are recognised as homeless by the council.
Renting private accommodation
The how to rent in England guide can help you when you are ready and able to move out of hosting arrangements.
Help with your rent deposits
We cannot act as a guarantor, but we may be able to provide financial help with your deposit. This is to assist you to secure affordable private rented accommodation whether you stay in our borough or move elsewhere in the UK. The amount of financial support we provide is dependent on the financial situation of each family/guest. Book an appointment to discuss your options. Contact housingadvice@guildford.gov.uk and provide the following information:
- names, gender and dates of birth for all household members
- current address and move in date/expected move out date (if known)
- sponsor's contact details
Let us know if you need an interpreter for the telephone appointment.
We also have some useful information in our Guildford and Surrey private renting guide
Homes for Ukraine furniture grant funding scheme
Ukrainians who came to Guildford under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and are going to move into rented accommodation can request exceptional funding for furniture, white goods, household essentials or flooring. This is a one-off payment granted in exceptional circumstances. The maximum amount is £1000 (£2000 where flooring is required).
Emergency housing if you have been made homeless
You are eligible for emergency accommodation if you have been made homeless. We cannot guarantee accommodating large families as a one group. You may be placed outside of our borough. The time you spend in emergency housing will depend on the availability of other housing.
If you find yourself in a homelessness emergency out of hours, please call 01344 949371. During normal opening hours you can email ukraine@guildford.gov.uk or call 01483 505050.
Ongoing support for guests and sponsors
Immigration information
E-Visa
From 2025, the United Kingdom (UK) launched a digital border control and immigration system. All physical BRPs have now expired and have been replaced by eVisas. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. However, it is worth keeping your BRP (if you have one) for future visa applications.
Online immigration status (eVisa) (opens new window)
Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
If you have been given permission to be in the UK under one of the Ukraine Schemes, you may be able to switch to a different visa or to apply for a further 18 months permission to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme. The UPE scheme opened to applications on 4 February 2025. You should apply for the UPE when there are 28 days or less before your current visa expires. It is crucial to apply for UPE before your current visa expires.
Eligible sponsors/hosts of those previously on Homes for Ukraine visas will be able to claim Thank you payments for the 18 months that guests are covered by a UPE scheme visa.
We will be contacting all current guests and hosts advising them about the UPE scheme and their next steps, namely:
- A sponsor/ host should reapply for Thank you payments in order to confirm their eligibility
- All guests living with a sponsor/ host should confirm their UPE status when they are granted permission
- A sponsor/ host and their household members should pass new DBS checks at a 3 years point (only if there are children in a Ukrainian group of guests)
Support from us
We currently offer the following support:
Help with council tax
The government changed the council tax rules for Ukrainian nationals living in the UK to:
- if a Ukrainian national with a Homes for Ukraine visa (guest) only moves in with someone or to a property occupied they do not have to pay council tax. This will not affect the sponsor's own council tax arrangements, including when the guest moves to UPE scheme while staying with their sponsor/host
- if a Ukrainian national moves into an empty property, they will need to pay council tax. They will be entitled to a 50% discount if they hold a Homes for Ukraine visa - Ukrainian refugee discount - Guildford Borough Council. If any Ukrainian nationals are on low income, they can claim help with the remaining balance by applying for local council tax support
Benefits and financial support
- if you're on housing benefit and struggling financially, you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment
- tell us about any changes that may affect your housing benefit or council tax support
- if you live in the centre of Guildford you can apply to Guildford Poyle Charities for help with travel and training costs
- Find out what other help and support we offer by visiting our cost of living support pages
Advice and signposting
We aim to visit our Homes for Ukraine hosts and guests at least once in order to make sure they have essential local information and signpost them to local support groups and services. Our team includes a Ukrainian speaker.
If your host-guest relationship is not working out or you have any concerns, contact us at ukraine@guildford.gov.uk.to get advice on your next steps.
Support settling into the community
The information on this page is intended to help Ukrainian guests settle in Guildford Borough and integrate into the community. If you have a specific question regarding local support for Ukrainians, contact ukraine@guildford.gov.uk.
Community Support
There are various places where Ukrainian refugees can get help in Guildford.
Ukraine Hub
Meet, relax, make new friends, chat and receive emotional, spiritual and practical help. The Hub is open every Friday (term time) from 10am till 12pm. There are also community English classes running at the Hub.
Address:Guildford Baptist Church, Millmead, Guildford, GU2 4BE
GUkraine - Guildford Help for Ukrainians
Email address: tinaukrainemission@gmail.com
The Hive for families
An accessible community centre in Guildford is open to everyone of all ages.
Address: The Hive, Park Barn Drive, Guildford, GU2 8EN
Employment
For support with finding a job, you can contact your local Jobcentre Plus.
Address: Leys House, 86-88 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4QD
Search for vacancies through a range of local and national employers:
find Guildford town centre jobs
jobs at Royal Surrey County Hospital
jobs at the University of Surrey
public sector jobs and careers
You can also search through popular job search websites (Indeed, LinkedIn) and recruitment agencies' websites.
Transport
Homes for Ukraine Temporary Bus Pass Scheme
Surrey County Council has worked with bus companies in Surrey to set up this scheme. It offers Homes for Ukraine visa holders and those who obtain their Ukraine Permission Extension visa after HFU a bus pass for free travel on their most used bus route. The bus pass scheme will continue until 31 March 2026.
Apply for a Homes for Ukraine temporary bus pass - Surrey County Council (opens new window)
Bus companies supporting the scheme:
- Compass Travel
- Falcon Coaches
- Metrobus
- Reptons Coaches
- Stagecoach
- White Bus
Find a bus timetable. (opens new window)
Education and English courses
School admissions - School admissions - Surrey County Council.
Guildford College - Guildford College
Address: Guildford College, Stoke Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1EZ, United Kingdom
Guildford Adult Learning Centre - Guildford Adult Learning Centre - Surrey County Council
Address: Sydenham Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3RX
St. Mary's Ukrainian School in Guildford
Address: Sixth Form Guildford County School, Guildford, GU2 4LU
Email address: info@stmarysukrschool.co.uk
Ukrainian School Surrey
Address: 23 Waterden Road, Christ Church House, Guildford, GU1 2AZ
Email address: uksatschool@gmail.com
Healthcare
We recommend that you register with a GP as soon as possible after you arrive. Find the nearest GP (General Practitioner) - Find a GP
Find the nearest NHS Dentist - Find an NHS dentist
If you need medical help (including dental problems) right now, you can use 111 online or via phone (interpreters are available).
Royal Surrey Hospital (including Emergency department)
Address: Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XX.
Telephone number: 01483 571 122 (switchboard).
Other useful contacts
Guildford Library
Versatile facilities and services are available atGuildford Library - Surrey County Council
Address: 77 North Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4AL
Citizens Advice South West Surrey (Guildford branch)
Get free advice on benefits, work, housing and more (interpreters are available) atCitizens Advice South West Surrey
Address: Millmead House, Guildford, Surrey GU2 4BB
Childcare advice and finder -Childcare - Surrey County Council