Ukraine: latest news and further information

Welcome to the Suffolk Ukraine Bulletin section of our website. These regular bulletins provide updates on the ongoing work to welcome Ukrainian guests to Suffolk, along with updates from partners within Suffolk’s Ukraine Task Group and information on how you can get involved as we continue to work together as a county to do all we can to help those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. You can read previous editions below, or subscribe to receive future editions directly by emailing refugeesupport@suffolk.gov.uk .

With best wishes on behalf of Suffolk's Ukraine Task Group,

Councillor Bobby Bennett, Cabinet Member for Equality and Communities.

Community groups

If you would like information about groups and events to support Ukrainian guests and their hosts in your area, please contact Community Action Suffolk at info@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk or you can find details on their website community support for Ukrainian refugees in Suffolk - Community Action Suffolk.

Suffolk Refugee Support

Suffolk Refugee Support is Suffolk's local refugee charity, you can find out about their response to the Ukraine situation on their website: Update on Ukrainian refugee situation in Suffolk.

Offering Work

You can offer work to people arriving from Ukraine if you’re an employer. This includes full-time jobs, part-time jobs and voluntary work.

Find out how to offer work to Ukrainian refugees on the GOV.UK website.

To help meet the needs of the Ukraine refugees, you may wish to support national and international charities such as The Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal | British Red Cross 

Further information on how to help can be found on the Disasters emergency committee website DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal | Disasters Emergency Committee.

Our Psychology and Therapeutic Services team have developed a range of resources to help staff and volunteers support refugee families.

Visit their Refugees, War and Conflict resources page. 

The UK charity Barnardo's have set up a free Ukrainian Support Helpline, which is staffed by English, Ukrainian and Russian speakers. To get help and advice on a range of topics, call 0800 148 8586, Monday to Friday (10am to 8pm) and Saturday (10am to 3pm).  Further information is available on the Barnardo's website.

Following the recent updates from central government, where it was announced that all ‘thank you’ payments will be paid at a flat rate of £350, we are pleased to be able to update you are follows:

Hosts whose guest/s remain on their existing homes for Ukraine visa

Suffolk County Council will fund an increase to the rate of the government monthly thank you payment of £25. Therefore, the standard payment rate to all eligible hosts will be £375.

Suffolk County Council will uplift with an additional £150 per month once hosts have been hosting their guest(s) for at least 6 months - £375 + £150 making a total monthly payment of £525. Sponsors/ hosts will be asked to opt-in to the additional payment as part of the thank you payment claims.

If sponsors/ hosts do not opt-in to receive the uplift, they will receive the standard payment rate for the duration of the hosting period (payments will not be increased when guest has been in uk for 12 months)

Government eligibility criteria for sponsorship and receiving thank you payments in place at the time of the claim will be applied. This may result in some existing thank you payment recipients no longer being eligible to receive payment e.g. In situations where a close family member is being hosted.

Host thank you payments – Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

To support guests still in sponsorship as they transition to living independently, the government have extended thank you payments for 18 months of the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme at a rate of £350 a month.

When your guest(s) Homes for Ukraine permission expiry is reached, a new claim form and declaration for the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme will be sent to the lead host.
Please complete and submit this form if you wish to receive thank you payments.

Payments for eligible UPE claims will be at the government rate of £350 per month.

Please note - Suffolk County Council will not be providing an uplift to the government flat rate.

The published government guidance for guests can be seen under homes for Ukraine: Ukraine permission extension scheme - guidance for guests.

See our website for further information about Ukraine Permission Extension scheme host thank you payments Ukraine: information for hosts - Suffolk County Council

Seasonal Winter 'thank you' payment

Suffolk County Council is offering a one-off additional payment of £350 to all hosts who are accommodating Ukrainian guests in January 2026, as recognition of the additional pressures faced during our coldest months.
This payment will be made in February to those hosting Ukrainian guests during January 2026 and is in addition to the monthly payment already paid to active hosts on this scheme.

You do not need to make a claim for this payment. An email will be sent to eligible hosts, advising they will receive the payment and giving the option to opt out if they choose.

If you are eligible but have chosen not to receive the current monthly Thank You payment and would like to receive this additional Seasonal Winter Thank you payment, please contact refugeesupport@suffolk.gov.uk by 3 February 2026.