This week’s blog is a bit niche.
But if you have any Ukrainian guests staying with you as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, it’s handy to know that if you yourself are members of English Heritage or The National Trust, then you can get 6 months free membership for your guests.
Which can be extended by 6 months if they are still residing with you after the initial 6 month period.
Chris and I decided to cheer ourselves up at the weekend by visiting Anglesey Abbey. Chris emerged from a horrific 2 day migraine and decided he ought to get some fresh air.
We first discovered Anglesey Abbey last Christmas. We absolutely fell in love with it. So much so I’m decorating one of my Christmas trees this year in bone fide, dripping with childhood nostalgia, coloured lights and original 50s, 60s, and 70s baubles in homage to both the decorations at Anglesey Abbey, and yesteryear.
I can’t bloody wait either!! I’ve spent a fortune on the original baubles. Plus my mum has very kindly loaned me some that she bought for her first married Christmas in 1969.
I’m hoping it won’t just be a feast for the eyes, but also an anchor back to a time of peace, calm and childhood joy.
Dress from Tesco, Shoes from Gina, Bag from Jimmy Choo
Blue moon - This was my nan’s favourite rose. And smelling it takes me back to my childhood making perfume from the roses in her garden.
Autumnal walks in July anyone?
Anglesey Abby is an absolute treat. I’d not heard of it before Chris found it in the National Trust book, looking for something to do back in December.
It’s just on the outskirts of Cambridge, so it’s only a 45 minute drive for us.
And like I said, if you have any Ukrainian guests they can get in free.
*Speaking of Ukrainian guests. I had some shocking news 2 weeks ago. And I’ve been trying to sort out something with the information I have.
I asked a friend (who is also hosting) what I’m meant to be doing to help Olya get more permanent living accommodation. The Homes for Ukraine scheme being that we host them for 6 months.
My friend said “oh, don’t you know?”
I replied that I didn’t.
She then tells me there is no plan. There is no stage 2, phase 2, plan B, or anything you want to call it as it hasn’t got a name because it doesn’t exist!
I was dumbfounded. So I set out doing a bit of digging of my own. I called a refugee charity that the Citizens Advice people gave me.
This is where what my friend had told me was confirmed. There is nothing in place for after the 6 months is up.
(I appreciate some hosts will be more than happy for their guests to stay for the whole year), but some, like us, will only want to do the agreed 6 months. Six months living with someone in your home is quite a long time as it is).
The person at the refugee centre then spelled out what I have to do;
She said, “you pack up all your guest’s worldly belongings and either drop them to the council offices, or a hotel (and pay for a few nights), with a letter saying they are now homeless”.
We actually have to physically kick them out!!
Honestly my legs buckled when she told me. I felt decidedly unwell. I have shed tears.
Not only are we expected to do this, because there is no formal plan in place to relocate any of the 72 thousand people that have come over - it is the only way for them to progress to independent living.
(Because even if they had the money for private renting (most don’t) they would need a guarantor).
I set about finding answers to this problem. I have contacted my MP (no response), 6 people at the the council housing department (no response).
So when I was approached by a journalist from LBC radio who had heard I was looking into this they asked if I’d be willing to talk about it and I agreed to go on Nick Ferrari’s show to discuss the issues. I did that yesterday.
Obviously due to agreeing to go on the show I had to speed up the time frame of telling Olya about what needed to happen to progress her stay here. I wasn’t going to mention it for a couple of months. But I didn’t want her hearing about it from anyone else.
She was incredible. She is a very good person. She was so gracious and generous and forgiving. I feel absolutely dreadful about it. But she absolved me of my guilt.
I have attached letters that I have sent to my MP and the council;
Dear *******
I was given your email address from a support worker at a refugee charity I contacted for some help.
They suggested I contact you for some further information.
My husband and I took a lady and baby in through the Homes For Ukraine scheme.
Our guests have been here over a month and have settled in well.
It came to my attention when talking to a friend, in a similar situation, on Friday that there is NO stage 2 in place.
Stage 1, being; us taking them in for 6 months. Which we were happy to do.
But it was our assumption (possibly foolishly or naively) that there would be a stage 2 and that before, or soon after the 6 months is up they would be found alternative accommodation.
A grace period of a month or so longer was inevitable I supposed. But now hearing that there is nothing after the 6 months I'm somewhat panicked.
My guests are lovely. I feel very fond of them. But it was never our intention to be a long term solution for her.
I have been informed today (and this is gut turning) that I will have to make them homeless. I will have to say her that I don't want them here any longer.
This is heart-breaking. I took them in because I'm generally a decent person. And now I find I'm going to have to do something so abhorrent and ghastly.
Plus the first time they hear about this is when I bring it up and tell her about it. Because there is no plan, as yet as far as I know, for the council to let them know this is going to have to happen for them to transition to a different home.
My husband and I were happy to pay the deposit on a studio flat for them after the 6 months is up here. But I've been told that I would need to be a guarantor for it. Which I don't want to do, as we'd be liable for issues during her tenancy. And of course if the war ends before that agreement is up she would return home, I therefore don't want to be left liable for her rent.
I feel very distressed that I'm going to have to do something awful to them. How cruel to be expected to firstly go through with this - and say they are no longer welcome, and be the one to break it to her that this has to happen in the first place.
I understand it's no one's fault. An extreme situation was thrust upon us all, Including the councils.
But my guest has been through so much. It pains me to have to do this to them. But at the same time, I know I don't want to do any longer than the agreed 6 months.
Could you please advise me on what I need to be doing in preparation.
Our guest’s 6 months runs out on 22nd December.
We will therefore be finding an alternative for her and the baby in early January, as we'd obviously not cast them aside a few days before Christmas.
(If the war ends before then, then obviously they will be on the first flight home. They have no desire to settle here long term).
Could I please also request that the council take the responsibility from the sponsors and inform the Ukrainian guests that this is the process in place as it stands. So it doesn't feel so cruel or personal.
I have not mentioned anything about this to my guest as yet, as I don't want to cause her any distress or discomfort until I have some information for her.
Thank you in advance for any help you can give.
Yours sincerely
Suzanne Doré
I have yet to hear anything back from the council.
Below is the message I had to send to Olya to put her in the picture as I was going to be interviewed on the radio.
Olya,
before I start this message I want you to know we are very fond of you both. You have done nothing wrong.
You are a lovely lady and a wonderful house guest.
We intend to help you in every way we can going forward.
It came to my attention on Friday last week that there is no stage 2 in place for Ukrainian refugees.
Stage 1 being us bringing you into our home for 6 months.
It was our expectation that the local council would step in at, or around the 6 month mark with alternative accommodation for you.
Therefore it came as a huge shock to find out there is literally NO plan for stage 2.
I contacted a refugee charity to clarify the situation. And it was again confirmed to me that there is NO stage 2 plan to re-house you or anyone.
The lady at the refugee charity told me what Chris and I will have to do to further you being able to get independent housing.
I cried when she told me. I’ve cried about it a lot as it’s so deeply heartbreaking and disturbing.
At the 6 month mark, Chris and I have to take you to a hotel and give you a letter saying you are no longer welcome in our home.
I feel so awful about this. I’m so sorry.
You will think Chris and I are horrible people. But we only wanted to host for the six months we agreed to.
I’m doing everything I can to make sure the government steps up and takes the responsibility for you and all of the other good Ukrainian people that have come over.
I have contacted the council.
I have people contacting the council too, to demand something is done.
I have been contacted by a radio station who want to interview me about the fact that there is no plan in place for the government to step in at the 6 month mark.
Nothing will happen until After Christmas, so, if the war hasn’t finished by then Chris and I will find you a hotel that you are happy with and we will pay for the first few nights.
Then you have to go to the council office in Braintree with the letter I give you saying you are now homeless.
The council will most likely pay for the rest of your stay at the hotel until arrangements can be made for you.
(If the war is over then the issue is solved and you will go home).
*You will of course still be welcome you come here for dinner or to visit, and to do your washing and drying while staying at the hotel.
(We just won’t tell the council that bit).
I am so sorry. But I am doing my best to get something in place for when the time comes.
Again. I am so sorry.
Suzanne x
I was so panicked that Olya would be traumatised or angry with me.
But she was so gracious and understanding.
With no plan in place this is the plan. No matter how odious it is.
I am fully aware there are hundreds of families already on the waiting list for permanent housing in my local area. But the Ukrainian situation is very different from say refugees from Afghanistan or Syria.
Although some people will want to stay here, all of the Ukrainians I have met want to go home as soon as they can. They are hoping the war will be over by Christmas, preferably sooner, and then they will return home.
So the housing needs are slightly different to those who want to make England their permanent home. The wait for permanent housing is always going to be long and arduous.
There are British born people languishing on the housing list.There are Syrian refugees, and Afghan refugees still living in hotel rooms, a year after the mass evacuation of Afghanistan.
My assumption I suppose, was that the council would help Ukrainians with the deposit and be guarantor on properties so they could rent through private landlords.
Also I assumed they’d be making arrangements with private landlords for shorter term lets so people wouldn’t be liable for the full term of the contract if they go home before the contract is up.
Going on the radio to explain the situation has highlighted the problem. A lot of hosts still don’t even know yet about this being the non plan plan.
The radio station has a lot of people phoning in saying they are in the same situation as us. And they are as dismayed as I am.
Some phoned in to say “British homes are for British people!” And to those people I say please take me off your Christmas card list. :)
I’m not religious in the slightest, but I have compassion and kindness in bucket loads, always have done, I’ll always fight the under dog’s corner, and unsurprisingly surviving cancer merely distilled that instinct in me… And I thank my genetics and the universe for that!
I totally understand those who will criticise me for not wishing our guests to stay with us longer than the agreed 6 months, believe me, you can’t condemn me for this any more than I am myself.
I feel awful about it. But we felt the 3 months it took for Olya to get here with the paperwork process and the 6 months we’d be able to give would be enough time for the government to come up with a plan.
Staying with us longer or long term for that matter wasn’t our expectation.
*The phrase 'No good deed goes unpunished' is a sardonic commentary on the frequency with which acts of kindness backfire on those who offer them. In other words, those who help others are doomed to suffer as a result of their helpfulness.