COSLA Response to the Situation in Ukraine
On 14 March 2022, in response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the UK Government launched its Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine), which relies on individuals in the UK acting as a sponsor and matching with people displaced from Ukraine.
On 18th March 2022, Scottish Government launched the Scottish Super Sponsor Scheme for displaced people as part of its Warm Scots Welcome programme. The Super Sponsor Scheme removes the need for applicants to be matched prior to being given permission to travel to the UK. Scottish Government are acting as ‘super sponsor’.
To meet immediate accommodation needs under the Super Sponsor Scheme, Welcome Hubs have been established across Scotland. Super Sponsor matching is processed centrally (by the Scottish Government and COSLA) and locally (by Local Authorities).
On 13 July 2022, Scottish Government temporarily paused the Super Sponsor Scheme. The decision to pause the scheme was to ensure support could continue after a large increase of new applications.
Useful guidance:
- Super Sponsor Scheme and Homes for Ukraine: guidance for local authorities – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- People arriving from Ukraine – risk and need: public protection guidance – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- Super Sponsor Scheme and Homes for Ukraine: guidance for hosts – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)