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I’m a Ukrainian arriving in Richmond upon Thames

We are welcoming Ukrainian nationals through the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

This page provides useful local information for getting you settled in Richmond upon Thames.

The UK government have published a comprehensive guide to the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and life in the UK. We recommend you take time to read this.

Financial support and finding a job

Ukrainian guests on a Homes for Ukraine visa are entitled to a one-off £200 payment per person to help with immediate costs. To claim this payment guests or the Ukrainian host can use the form below to book an appointment.

The appointment form will advise when to come to the Civic Centre reception, Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12 noon, excluding bank holidays. The address is: 44 York Street, Twickenham, TW1 3BZ. Guests should bring their Ukrainian passport or visa documents as proof of ID.   

Please note: If you have arrived in the UK with a Ukrainian Family Visa, you are not entitled to the £200 payment.

Book an appointment

Entitlement to work

You are entitled to work while you are living in the UK. Before you can start work, you need to apply for a National Insurance number. You can start work without a National Insurance number if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK.

If you are unable to find a job straight away, or need additional financial support, you are eligible to apply for benefits immediately. Find out what support is available to you.

A local Jobcentre Plus, can also help you find employment and assess you for financial benefits.

Work Match is the Council's employment service that can offer support, advice, guidance and training, and can help you find a job with a local employer. Call or email to register.

You can learn new skills through one of many local adult education providers.

Council Tax support

If you are a Ukrainian national with a Homes for Ukraine visa you can apply for a Council Tax reduction.

English language courses

For information about English as a second language courses in the local area, you can contact Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College (RHACC), the main provider of adult education in the borough. 

If you want to improve your English to communicate, then English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses are suitable for you if English is not your first language. An assessment by the college is needed before any course recommendation is made to the learner. If you are under the Ukrainian Family Scheme or Homes For Ukraine scheme, there should not be any cost for your study.

If you want to gain a recognised qualification, then English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses are available to help you evidence your English language skills for work, study and practical use.

Further information is available on RHACC’s website.

You can contact RHACC for general enquiries by calling +44 (0)20 8891 5907 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or by emailing info@rhacc.ac.uk.

The Government has also published details of additional resources and online courses which may be of interest.

Education and support for children

Any child under 18 will be entitled to enrol in a local school. You will receive support to enrol in a school, but you can find out more information about the process here:

​Find out about other local childcare options for any age and children centres, for children under 5.​

There are nine local youth clubs which offer a range of activities and support for young people.

14 to 25 service

The 14 to 25 service can offer advice and guidance for 16/17 year olds living in the boroughs. This team will have the latest updates on how Ukrainian young people can apply to sixth form and offer other guidance about colleges.

Ukrainians and/or host families can arrange this by emailing the 14-25 inbox at 14-25@achievingforchildren.org.uk. This is monitored regularly. They can also be contacted on 07540 156905. Interpreters are available where needed.

Special needs

All families with children will receive a home visit from a children’s services officer from the Council. If your child has a disability or special educational needs, the officer will be able to help you access support available.

St Mary's Ukrainian School 

We have supported St Mary's Ukrainian School to open a site in Richmond. The supplementary school offers classes in Ukrainian on Ukrainian language, history and geography.

The school holds sessions every Sunday at St Richard's Church of England Primary School, Ashburnham Road, Richmond, TW10 7NL. 

Find out more information about the school and register for a place by completing the online form. 

Healthcare

You will have access to free health care while in the UK, via the local National Health Service (NHS).

Accessing healthcare

The first thing you should do is register with a local GP. GP surgeries are usually the first contact if you have a health problem. They can treat many conditions and give health advice. They can also refer you to other NHS services, including mental health.

Mental health and wellbeing support services are available to you locally. If you have serious concerns about your mental health you should contact your GP.

Find out about other local health services.

Get a COVID-19 vaccine

Everyone living in the UK aged 12 and over, and some children aged 5 to 11, can get a 1st and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

People aged 16 and over, and some children aged 12 to 15, can also get a booster dose.

Find out how to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Find out more COVID-19 guidance in the UK and other local information.

Support for vulnerable adults

Adult Social Care can help people who are elderly or have disabilities. They can also help you connect with local neighbourhood groups, and services such as libraries and health services.

They can also help you if you look after someone else.

When you contact Adult Social Care, they will carry out an assessment to find out what you need. They will also carry out a financial assessment to see if you have to pay anything.

Adult Social Care can help arrange for someone to come into your home to look after you. They can also arrange for a place in a care home. They can get specialist equipment to help you live in your home. They can give support and advice to people with physical or learning disabilities, or people with sensory disabilities.

Find out more about Adult Social Care.

Police and safety

You can contact the Police by calling 101 (non-emergency) or 999 (emergency).

There is support available if you need help for the following:

Living in Richmond upon Thames

Richmond upon Thames is a great place to live, with plenty to do locally.

Find out more:

You can find out about local events, shops, bars and restaurants at Visit Richmond.

If you would like to explore the rest of London, find out more about public transport options with Transport for London (TfL).

More useful information:

General support

We have funded Citizens Advice Richmond to provide an information and advice service for Ukrainians. This is to provide support to Ukrainians and sponsors on a range of topics including applying for benefits, employment, housing, money and level one immigration matters. 

Online enquiries

Can be sent via these forms:

Telephone by Freephone 

0808 278 7873 - Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.

Face to face appointments can be booked 

For new clients these can be requested online through the advice section.

Existing clients (that have already been in contact with Citizens Advice) can request an appointment with the adviser they have been in contact with.

Find out more about Citizens Advice Richmond’s support.

Contact

If you are unable to find the information you need on these pages or on our website you can contact us via email homesforukraine@richmond.gov.uk or call 0208 891 7687.

For independent advice on the Homes for Ukraine scheme and living in the UK, you can visit:

Out of hours help

If you or your guest requires urgent help outside of our normal working hours or over the weekend please contact the Out of Hours number: 020 8871 8999.

This number will be able to help with emergencies such as immediate safeguarding issues or urgent housing needs.

It cannot help if you are a victim of crime, witness or need help for a crime currently in progress, or if there is an emergency that could cause harm to people or property - in these instances call 999.

Up to: Ukraine

Updated: 21 December 2023

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