Monday 16 May 2022
Following the decision by the Committee for Home Affairs and the Policy & Resources Committee to proceed with the introduction of a Bailiwick of Guernsey Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, work has been carried out to develop the parameters.
This policy will be considered by the Committee for Home Affairs this week.
The Committee is working at pace and once the policy is agreed, the process of matching suitable accommodation - kindly offered by members of the community - to Ukrainian beneficiaries will be able to take place. The intention is for the Scheme to be introduced on a phased approach. Prospective sponsors of Ukrainian refugees will therefore be contacted in stages to ensure that they remain able to offer support and to confirm details of the accommodation they are able to provide.
The policy aims are:
- To ensure that Ukrainian beneficiaries who may come to the Bailiwick under this Scheme are provided with a sponsorship arrangement that is safe, suitable and dignified;
- To promote a positive relationship between the approved sponsor and Ukrainian beneficiary; and,
- To ensure all Ukrainian beneficiaries travelling to the Bailiwick under this Scheme have access to the appropriate community and public service support.
As part of our work to develop the detail of the scheme, Deputy Rob Prow and Deputy Peter Ferbrache last week met with representatives from charity organisations supporting Ukrainians who have already relocated to the island under the Family Scheme and are seeking to work with us in order to provide a successful sponsorship scheme. This meeting was very productive.
Before deciding to progress with the Scheme, the Committee for Home Affairs and the Policy & Resources Committee sought input from other States Committees and Alderney and Sark, and have engaged His Excellency, the Lieutenant-Governor.
Deputy Rob Prow, President of the Committee for Home Affairs, said:
'Following our announcement confirming our intention to introduce a tailored Guernsey scheme, work has been focused on developing the policy that underpins the scheme and ensures it is appropriate and in keeping with our obligations as a responsible jurisdiction. We know there is a strong desire from many in our community for this scheme to be in place as soon as possible and we expect further significant progress imminently, which will then allow us to focus on the process of matching potential sponsors, who have appropriate accommodation available, with Ukrainian beneficiaries. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the charity representatives, who have already done so much to support the settling in of Ukrainians already here as part of the Family Scheme, for the very productive meeting Deputy Ferbrache and I had with them last week. It was very useful and welcomed.'
