Sefton offers warm welcome to 178 Ukrainian refugees with ‘incredibly supportive’ schools praised

A very warm welcome has been given to 178 Ukrainian refugees in Sefton. 

Families around the borough are doing all they can to provide new homes for dozens of people who have fled their country since the invasion by Russia earlier this year. 

The new arrivals include  67 family groups, 108 adults and 70 children aged 0-18. 

Schools across Southport, Formby, Crosby, Maghull and elsewhere have also accepted a number of Ukrainian children into their classrooms.

The schools have been praised for being “incredibly supportive and accommodating”. 

The numbers were revealed through a question on the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Sefton scheme asked by Councillor Waterfield to the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing Councillor Hardy. 

Cllr Hardy said: “Of the children that have arrived 32 have been placed at school or referred to Further Education settings. There are 17 children who have only just arrived and we are still awaiting an application from them. 

“Of the 32 children placed there have been no major issues and the schools have been incredibly supportive and accommodating. 

“We are finding that families are requesting schools where other Ukrainian children attend but are equally understanding if we inform them there is no room at that school or in that year group.”

Schools that have accepted 32 Ukrainian children in the Homes for Ukraine scheme are: Birkdale Primary – 1 child 

Chesterfield High – 2 children 

Churchtown Primary – 1 child 

Deyes/Maricourt/Maghull – 1 child 

Farnborough Road Primary – 1 child 

Freshfield – 1 child 

Great Crosby RC Primary – 1 child 

Hatton Hill – 1 child 

Lydiate Primary – 1 child 

Great Crosby – 1 child 

Range High – 2 children 

Redgate Primary – 2 children 

St Andrews – 1 child 

St Marys – 2 children 

St Michaels Primary – 2 children 

St Nicholas’ – 1 child 

Ursuline – 2 children 

Valewood – 1 child 

Waterloo – 1 child 

Woodlands – 7 children 1.4 

Cllr Hardy said: “Overall there haven’t been any significant issues and there haven’t been any complaints from the public. When places haven’t been available alternatives have been offered and accepted quickly.

“We are acutely aware of the potential impact on homelessness services should the sponsor / guests relationship break down and so we are ensuring that we resolve issues quickly. 

“We have managed to rematch a couple of cases already that would have normally come through the Housing Options Team for assistance.

“I have developed a training package for the team that focuses on: Trauma; Mediation; Managing Conflict; Personal Safety; Case-working with people where English isn’t the first language; British values.

“The team have all completed safeguarding for adults and children modules and we are also encouraging the team to attend the Mental Health First Aid course too.

“We have submitted our first quarterly claim for the resettlement grant for the 135 guests that have arrived.

“We have proactively sent a Microsoft Form to all Sefton residents that have expressed an interest in becoming a sponsor in an effort to identify those that want to go forward. 

“We can then focus our visits and checks and hopefully create a small cohort of sponsors who could help at short notice should a relationship break down or a guest arrive in the region unexpectedly.

“Sefton has delivered a robust response to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Homes for Ukraine scheme.”

 

• If you would like to learn more about the Sefton Homes for Ukraine scheme please visit: sefton.gov.uk 

 

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