A-list celebrity and Isle of Wight resident Benedict Cumberbatch has said he wants to join the efforts to house Ukrainian refugees by taking part in the Government’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme.
Residents across the UK will soon be able to nominate an individual or family to stay with them rent-free, or in another property, for at least 6 months. As a way of a thank you, Brits will be given £350 a month – whilst local authorities, such as the Isle of Wight Council, will be given an extra £10,500 in funding per refugee.
The first Ukrainians are set to be matched with UK hosts this week, with refugees under the scheme due to land in around 2 weeks’ time.
Benedict Cumberbatch has told Sky News that he believes everyone should donate, put pressure on politicians and create a haven for those who are suffering – something he hopes to do himself by volunteering space within his home.
It’s quite possible that Cumberbatch will offer up accommodation at his second home in Brook here on the Isle of Wight.
The Cumberbatch’s got married at Mottistone on Valentine’s Day 2015 and have been part-time residents here ever since. They christened their son, Christopher, at St Peter and St Paul’s Church on September of the same year.
Islanders have been throwing their support behind the Ukrainian people, including Wootton man Daniel Williams who has driven a minibus loaded with donations from the Isle of Wight to the Ukrainian border.
If you want to help, contribute to the prize fund on Putin’s head.
I’m afraid that would be wasted money, there’s far too much security around him.
When the pot gets big enough, those loyalties will change.
Spot on, old school
Virtue signalling at it’s finest.
Shame he didn’t open his hospitality to one of the homeless he must see on the streets of the island….
He’s all talk this luvvie leftie. He loves to give his opinion on every political matter. Not too long ago he asked the government about how the political economic model works? Sadly he never got in tough with the home secretary so again we never got the benefit of his wisdom. So if you’re championing away at the bit about how we should all take Ukrainian refugees lead by example. Oh that would be when you and Linaker said you would be in the front of the queue to take immigrants from Syria. Still waiting for that one! Just for the record Ukrainian refugees do need housing and looking after by us Brits and Europeans.
Well done Ben !! If all of the second home owners on the Island gave them up for the
refugees from Ukraine we could house approx 50,000 ..So come on Mr Seely lets see
what your made and bring this up in the House ..Just imagine how many of these desperate
displaced people the UK could house in second home all over the country from Cornwall to
John O`groats …
Bog off!
Good shout bruv,
But it would never happen.
That’s how the rich, stay rich.
IF this sceam ever gets off the ground, it would be us normal folk that makes it work, and not the liberal elite.
I’m more worried about the 10k+ that the IW council would receive for every refugee, as they can not be trusted.
Would that be all the 2nd home owners that have to pay council tax here? (there are no exemptions for 2nd home owners on IOW) but dont live here so actually fund the council yet use virtually none of the services here? Or the same ones that contribute to the vital tourist economy without which this Island would die? Those ones?
Usual uninformed tosh from you.
What will the Council do with their possible £40,000 for family of 4 yet a family sharing their home 24/7 hardly get enough to cover bills etc at just £4000. Council get 10x more.
exactly why i wont give up my spar rooms
If moronic hypocrites like him were not allowed to have second homes in the first place there would be more housing for everyone. What happened to taking back control of our borders Bozo? Seems it is just open doors again for any immigrant who wants to come over here. This country is just a dump with no identity now, nothing to be proud of anymore now that the PC brigade have taken over.
Wow! How cruel to say Ukranians fleeing can’t come here. We are expected to be proud of UK with people like you? I am completely shocked.
David there’s very much a “that’s not your, it’s mine, gimme it” attitude with a lot of the posters on Island Echo comments. Not wanting Ukrainians here is not wanting to help people.
They call it the Isle of WHITE for a reason, something to do with trying to perpetuate some dated impression of the IoW being some quaint English backwater, away from the fray.
It’s tiresome hearing it all the time but these kind of comments are from older people, so not to big a deal as they’ll be off the mortal coil soon enough.
Unfortunately people like that person are directly responsible for the current state of the UK and it’s present government.
Happily 44,000 other people in the UK don’t agree with that xenophobic mentality and would be happy to house Ukrainian refugees. That at least gives me some hope.
We need to look after are own first , if u want a stranger in yA house not knowing there background all anything very dangerous
Agree, North island is now like a foreign country, hence, this is why we have so many mainlanders trying to move here.
The isle of wight should be renamed ” THE ALAMO “.
No, the North Island is like a normal country, where a mix of people from varied backgrounds and abilities live together in a society.
Rather than South Island looking from without, rolling their eyes in fear that those nasty brown people / foreigners will actually come over here and share what we’ve got.
Perish the thought, eh ?
no the North Island is full of sponging dead beats from every other country.
the isle of wight already caters to those born here. all others can always leave on the ferry if they don’t like the way we do things.
Seriously, read your comment back to yourself.
it’s about time someone said it well done isle of wighter
Shocking.. pull yourself out of your far right, BNP mindset and have some feeling for those who are displaced from their homes.
Total idiot
Blatant case of ‘Virtue Signalling’
Soon get them ironing and cleaning.
Anybody reading the comments attached to Island Echo features regarding immigration will see there’s a sizeable contingent of racist NIMBYs on the island.
NIMBYs that think the IOW is theirs (nothing is yours), unwashed or unable people are ‘scum’ (their term), and that the mainland is set on invading.
So if you’re thinking of moving to the IOW remember these locals will hate you in their keeness to protect their precious domain.
Oh, if you move here you’ll struggle to find a decent restaurant – no-one down here knows what decent food is (no, KFC isn’t decent food) !
I couldnt agree more. The amount of racist, uneducated, closed minded parasites on the island is overwhelming.
feel free to leave if you don’t like it
Moronic comments from a typically stupid pc fool. The country is doomed if it is in their hands. To think someone actually bred these idiots.
couldn’t have said it better myself
you moved here though didn’t you…..ferries are operating..you can leave anytime.
Yes, I agree, BUT WHAT IS THE POINT THAT YOU ARE MAKING exactly ?
When In Rome……..
Why would u want any Tom dick harry in yA house we don’t there back ground ,
So if you’re famous then you’re a resident, otherwise you’re a second homeowner who doesn’t belong here.