25 November 2025

South Cambridgeshire has welcomed almost 1,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war, thanks to the generosity of local communities and support provided by the District Council.

The Government launched the Homes for Ukraine scheme in 2022 to enable UK residents to offer accommodation to people escaping the conflict in Ukraine. The District Council responded rapidly to ensure that residents who were keen to support those fleeing the war in Ukraine could offer a place to stay as promptly as possible. This initial work included hundreds of DBS checks, in-person visits to check accommodation was suitable, ensuring payments were made to both guests and hosts, and much more.

Recognising that guests want to live more independently where they could – the Council established dedicated support for those who wanted to find their own accommodation early in the scheme. This included involvement from Homes for Ukraine guests who have in-turn helped other guests.

All this support for the Homes for Ukraine scheme is outlined in a report published today (Tuesday 25 November 2025) and will be discussed when the Council’s Cabinet meets next Tuesday (2 December 2025). Councillors have said that South Cambridgeshire residents responded with extraordinary kindness, making the district one of the leading areas nationally for participation.

Key achievements in South Cambridgeshire

Since the scheme began:

• 993 Ukrainians have arrived in South Cambridgeshire, thanks to local hosts opening their homes - one of the highest figures for a lower-tier authority in the country.
• 416 families have since moved on into their own independent accommodation, supported by the Council’s housing and tenancy services.
• A Ukrainian-speaking Tenancy Support Officer at the District Council has assisted over 100 families with setting up homes, managing bills, and registering with local services.
• The Council has run multiple tenancy workshops, provided English lessons, and worked with partners such as Beam to deliver employment support, including CV writing, interview coaching, and job searches.
• Community integration has been strengthened through collaboration with local groups like Open Arms in Shelford and Stapleford, Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign, and Cottenham4Ukraine, alongside many others.
• Practical help has included providing guests with recycled laptops and electronics, second-hand bikes, and funding for visa advice, mental health support, and wellbeing activities for children.
• The Council has also supported the Cambridge Ukrainian School, enabling cultural education and excursions for young people.

Supporting wellbeing and integration

Beyond housing and employment, the Council has worked with partners to provide:

• Mental health services through Refugee Host Support, including group sessions and one-to-one therapy.
• Summer camps and sports activities for children to help them integrate and build confidence.
• Funding for visa queries and applications through Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum, ensuring families can transition to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme.

Cllr John Batchelor, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Right at the start of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, we quickly ensured we were set up to provide the best possible support to guests and hosts. Our response saw hundreds of accommodation visits and DBS checks completed rapidly, along with new systems and processes established. This all set the foundation to ensure we could then focus on supporting guests to move on into their own accommodation and live more independently.

“Welcoming almost 1,000 Ukrainians to South Cambridgeshire is an incredible achievement and a testament to the kindness of our communities. Opening your home to someone fleeing war is an extraordinary act of generosity, and we are proud to have supported hosts and guests every step of the way. We remain grateful to current hosts – more than 80 of them – who continue to provide a place to stay. From helping families settle into independent accommodation to providing language lessons and employment support, this has been a real community effort.”

The Government’s Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme allows guests from Ukraine to apply for an 18-month visa extension when they are within 28 days of their existing visa ending. The Council continues to support guests as part of this process – along with those looking to move on elsewhere. Find out more about the Homes for Ukraine scheme at www.gov.uk/register-interest-homes-ukraine