*Inform the council Sponsor Liaison Officer of the date that you are expecting your guests. Ask for welcome pack and request SIM card (one Vodafone card per family available through council) and food parcel.
*When all your guest’s permission to travel letters have been received, complete the school admission form and send to Buckinghamshire Council.
Link to the information. Link to the form you need to complete. You will also need to upload passports and visas/permission to travel letter and send them with the form.
Say yes to everything, give your guests agency and they can return things if they don’t need them. Food parcel appreciated by guests.
*Inform HUSC Provisions Team on the hosts spreadsheet of date of guests arrival and clothing and shoe sizes, so that HUSC welcome pack can be delivered and correct stock is available in the HUSC ‘shop’.
Pre Arrival of Guests
Tips for each stage of the process
Also worth speaking to your first/second choice schools to let them know your hopes/plans.
*Complete the DBS forms that the council will send you and upload relevant documents,
*Complete the housing visit. You will be contacted by the council to arrange for a time for a visit to your property.
*Register for National Insurance number https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number
*Register with your GP - in most cases the new patient forms are available on line from your GP surgery.
*If guests have an international passport register for Biometric Residency Permit (BRP) appointment - Link. For those with a Ukrainian passport who have already had their biometrics taken at a visa centre, contact the centre shown on the letter which was issued with the visa,
*Once registered, ask doctors or sponsor liaison officer to provide letter with confirmation of address
*Inform the LA of the date children can start school. Use the email address you send the school application to. For transport queries link- As there are no footpaths through South Heath children are entitled to free transport from Ballinger
NI easier to complete on your phone. Take photos of documents and upload immediately them rather than save them.
*Arrange for your Sponsor Liaison Officer to visit within 48 hours of arrival. They will bring £200 for each guest and the Council welcome pack.
*Contact the provisioners via the general whattsapp group and arrange to visit the HUSC ‘Shop’
Digital banks: Monzo, Revolut, Starling, but there are some limitations with the free accounts. Very good experience with NatWest in Amersham. HSBC also very good and hosts just need to take along council tax letter confirming address.
At first glance it looks like you have to pay for the basic BRP service, when you scroll to the bottom of the final screen you will see that it is free. Luton is a good location with plenty of parking outside the office. There are 2 centres in Luton - aim for the LU1 3PE in Capability Green business centre with parking right outside.
*Open bank account online or in person - take confirmation of address letter and passport to bank - NB an international passport or BRP is needed.
Post Arrival of Guests - tasks they may need support with
Tips for each stage of the process
To apply for free school transport: Admissions & Transport Contact Us Form All children are eligible in more remote villages due to lack of footpaths so it is deemed unsafe.
Post Arrival of Guests
Tips for each stage of the process
To arrange English lessons, contact Amanda Cato at Buckinghamshire Learning, Angela.Cato@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or 01296 674463. 2 x 2.5hrs English lessons a week, free with proof of universal credit application.
Sign up for free Leisure Centre access https://www.everyoneactive.com/promotion/ukrainian-refugee-free-membership
Once you have applied for universal credit your guests will be invited to attend a meeting at Wycombe Job Centre. Park at Sainsbury’s and take escalator down to main doors which open onto the street. Turn right and continue walking down the road to the right, crossing at the pedestrian crossing and it’s down on the right.
Register guests at dentists - 9a Hill Avenue Dental Practice in Amersham is taking adults and children on NHS: 01494 727013
Once bank account details have been received register for child benefit link and universal credit. You may have be required to attend a meeting for universal credit. At the meeting ask for a child benefit form and they should also provide you with certified copies of your child’s passport and birth certificate. No need to send off the children’s original documents despite what it says in the form. Write on the top of the front of the child benefit form, FAST TRACK UKRAINE SCHEME.