Community Action Isle of Wight is appealing for property owners to come forward as the need for accommodation for Ukrainian families continues.
The charity, which has been working with the Isle of Wight Council to support families fleeing the war in Ukraine, has welcomed over 100 families to the Island. However, the charity has struggled with the challenge of placing larger families and is appealing for additional help from the Island community.
Philippa Daley from Community Action, who has coordinated much of the support to date, has said:
“We want to say a huge thank you to all the Island families that have helped us so far. You have made such a difference to the many families that have had to leave their loved ones behind to escape the horrors of the war in Ukraine, offering them a safe place to live here on the Island. We have also been delighted that so many of our hosts have told us of the positive experience this has been for them too.
“However, we have found it difficult to place larger families who are desperate to stay together and so we appealing to property owners with vacant properties to come forward. We are ideally looking for properties with two or three bedrooms in locations across the Island that property owners would be willing to rent for a minimum of a year.”
1 such family includes Yuliia, an Estate agent from Kharkiv in Ukraine who is seeking accommodation for herself and her 3 children. She’s said:
“We have been so lucky to stay with a wonderful host family on the Island in Atherfield and they have been really welcoming to us. However, they now need to downsize and buy a smaller property and we will therefore need to find somewhere else to live from March next year.
“When my children and I fled Ukraine my husband stayed behind to help our community and we thought that we would only stay in the UK for a couple of months. Sadly it is not safe for us to return home and the conditions under which my husband is living has become so difficult with no heating and power cuts that he is going to come to the Island to join us.
Article continues below this advertisement “My children are in school in Brighstone and Newport and we would be so grateful to be able to stay in the same area as the children are really settled in school and doing well. ”
Mike Bulpitt, CEO of Community Action, says:
“We continue to hear the heart-wrenching stories of our Ukrainian visitors, many of whom have loved ones still in Ukraine and would love nothing more than to return to their country. Some have had to watch their homes and businesses destroyed and they simply need a safe haven until the war comes to an end.
“The generosity of Islanders has been truly remarkable, and we are hopeful that more people can come forward to help families in need.”
Anyone able to help is asked to contact Philippa on 01983 539374 or email [email protected] – Community Action will then provide the support to guide you through the process.
I think we need to find/build homes for our own residents first… or would you sleep in the street and give your home to a Ukrainian , or any other foreign family ??
You island lot don’t like anyone who isn’t from the island behonest I felt so unwelcome it was unreal
What’s that got to do with it . I’m not from the island. I’m from Brighton and my answer to incredibles post would be the same . People of all cultures there are living in rotting damp rat infested run down homes /apartments. A family I know are some of these and you know what noone cares . Local councils couldn’t care less . Charity starts at home. It’s got nothing to do with wether your an islander.
“You Island lot?” I was born on the Island but most of the people I know have moved here. You would probably be unwelcome anywhere if you’ve had problems with “Islanders”, perhaps you should take a look at your own attitude. I served my country in the Armed Forces, which is more than most of you commenting here, and I have no problem in giving anyone a safe haven.
Boat leaves every half hour * be on it if unhappy here.
* If not cancelled due to important staff illness or rough weather or mechanical problems or strikes
I’ll take the woman…no kids tho.
Why is hubby abandoning his own country for……?
You can’t have your cake and eat it.
Quite agree
Totally agree.
Let’s hope war doesn’t come here and you don’t need help..
It DID and OUR men went off to war, OUR pensioners joined the home guard, OUR women worked in factories and on farms and even OUR children helped gather crops and rose hips for much needed vitamin C , as citrus fruit was rare
These are just freeloading migrants USING war to understandably gain an easy safe life but at OUR expense.
Loyalty paper thin to their own land so none for the UK
We also sent families to Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand during the second world war. Was their loyalty so thin? Were they freeloading migrants?
Hope they don’t want a doctor or a dentist.
Just a maternity ward to ENSURE the right to sponge FOREVER.
I bet you’re just worried your own sponging benefits might be affected.