Free helpline to support Ukrainian families

Following a discussion with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Barnardo’s has set up the Ukrainian Support Helpline to provide a holistic support service. The helpline is available to anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

Barnardo’s free helpline is staffed by English, Ukrainian and Russian speakers, to offer support to children and families arriving in the UK from Ukraine.

Telephone: 0800 148 8586

The helpline is open Monday to Friday (10am to 8pm) and Saturday (10am to 3pm). Callers will be able to get help and advice on a range of topics.

Find out more information from Barnardo's

Refugee family helpline

We are here to support children and their families seeking sanctuary in the United Kingdom. Our Helpline provides emotional and practical support as well as advice and signposting to children, young people and their families.

All services include access to interpreters if required.

Telephone: 0808 156 9877

Email address: RefugeeFamilyHelpline@barnardos.org.uk

The Helpline is open Monday to Friday (10am to 8pm) and Saturday (10am to 3pm).

Find out more information

Therapeutic support

Funded by Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities we can offer free therapeutic support to children and young people aged 21 and under on the Ukraine and Afghanistan pathways who are living in England. We can support children and young people aged 21 and under who have settled in England on one of the following schemes:

• The Homes for Ukraine scheme
• Ukraine Family scheme
• Ukraine Extension Scheme
• Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (Pathways 1, 2 and 3) Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy

What can our therapy service support you with?

Our therapist will listen to you and explore your feelings and experiences in a safe space, without fear of judgement. It is a chance to discuss any difficulty or distress you may be experiencing or have experienced in the past. They can help you to accept the things that you cannot change and help you to bring about the changes that are possible. We offer you 8 sessions with the therapist. Each session will last 45 minutes. This will take place virtually (via phone call or video call). We have over 90 therapists who speak over 40 languages.

How can I access this therapy support?

If you would like therapeutic support, you can contact our helpline service by telephone on our freephone number 0808 156 9877 or you can email RefugeeFamilyHelpline@barnardos.org.uk. When you contact our helpline our friendly advisors will listen to you to learn and understand more about your situation. With your agreement our advisor will refer you to our therapeutic support service. The therapist will then make contact with you in within approximately 2 to 4 weeks at a date and time that is convenient for you to begin sessions. Whilst you are being supported by our therapy team, you can continue to contact our helpline advisors who will be happy to offer you any additional support that you may require.

How do I know if I could benefit from support?

If you are feeling low, lonely, stuck, hopeless, feel like you need someone to talk to or listen to you, then therapy may be for you.

Telephone: 0808 156 9877

Email address: RefugeeFamilyHelpline@barnardos.org.uk

The helpline is open Monday to Friday (10am to 8pm) and Saturday (10am to 3pm).

Find out more information

Ukrainian virtual youth space

For young people from Ukraine aged 10 to 17. On the first and third Thursday of every month throughout 2024. 6pm to 7pm.

Sessions will be delivered by Barnardo's Refugee Family Helpline. For more information contact RefugeeFamilyHelpline@barnardos.org.uk

Bexley Deaf Centre has a member of staff who can communicate in International Sign Language if any assistance is required by refugees who are deaf, sign language users.

We have a member of staff who can communicate in International Sign Language if required.

We can also carry out minor repairs and maintenance on hearing aids including re-tubing and battery distribution.

We can offer basic hearing checks if anyone is worried about their hearing.

We can help with any hearing related issues. If we are not able to help directly we are able to signpost to the most appropriate service.

Telephone: 01322 351122

Operating hours: 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Bexley Deaf Centre 20 Whitehall Lane, Slade Green, DA8 2DH

Find out more information from Bexley Deaf Centre

BVSC is the Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) set up to offer support to organisations and residents of the London Borough of Bexley.  BVSC is the 'go to' place for all things community and voluntary related; whether you want to volunteer your time, are looking for volunteers or want to find out about local organisations.

More information on what the BVSC can offer

The British Red Cross (BRC) has established a Refugee Support Service in London to help refugees access essential services in their local community.

Further information is available from the following BRC guides:

• Refugee Support Ukraine Support (Ukrainian language)
• Refugee Support Ukraine Support (English language)
• Refugee Support Ukraine Support (Russian language)

Further information and support is available from the BRC website.

Busy Bee Nurseries are offering 10 free sessions (each session is half a day) per week per nursery for Ukrainian refugees.

They can be split across multiple children or families. Depending on the capacity at a particular site. Will also support switchover to LA provided 30 hours a week for children of eligible age.

Contact your local Busy Bee nursery or email clare.phizacklea@busybees.com.

Carers Support Bexley is a registered charity whose purpose is to provide information, support and breaks for unpaid carers. We aim always to be flexible and helpful, rather than expect carers to fit in with us.

Carers breaks service

We provide flexible respite for carers by offering support to people in their own homes. Support is given by fully trained, full-time volunteers enabling the cared-for person company and the carer a break.

Information and Support

A worker who can talk to you on the telephone and help to identify sources of local help.

Advice about welfare benefits and help with completing claim forms. We can visit you at home to do this if you wish.

Volunteers who can offer emotional support and a listening ear for carers who are isolated.

Telephone number: 020 8302 8011

Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (Breaks and Support worker service operate on weekends).

We are not an emergency service so can not guarantee an immediate response however we aim to respond with 2 working days.

Find out more information from Carers Support Bexley

Diabetes UK's aim is to offer mutual support, sharing information about the condition and the good practice in care and treatment. Also to ensure that high levels of professional care are available and maintained by the local Health Authorities and other health care providers. To become involved as laypersons with regional and national level study and research projects.

Telephone: 01322 409312

Email: Secretary@diabetesukbexley.com

Operating hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 8pm

46 Woodside Road Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 6JZ

Find out more information from Diabetes UK Bexley Group

Bexley enjoys a wide range of faith organisations that welcome and support their local communities.

There is a Ukrainian Mass Church Service at Christ Church Bexleyheath, on a regular basis each Sunday at 2pm conducted by Ukrainian speaking priest Father Myroslav.

St Peter’s Church, Pickford Lane, Bexleyheath

The Family Law Bar Association provides legal services to advise on the legal status of any unaccompanied minors, including on matters of who is responsible for exercising parental responsibility for them, how that is secured, and the existing legal framework for managing their care plans/support.

Find out more about The Family Law Bar Association

Together South works to support refugees and non-EU migrants in South London, helping them to connect with and thrive in their communities by providing English language lessons, employment advice and community activities. All activities the programme offers are free of charge.

The aim of the programme is to support refugees and non-EU migrants in South London boroughs to integrate into UK society by focusing on 3 key areas:

• Language: Conversational English language support will help participants to communicate more easily with UK citizens, and access services.
• Culture: Refugees and migrants will take part in community activities alongside UK citizens to promote inter-cultural understanding.
• Preparation for work: Participants will be offered employable skills training, careers advice and pastoral care via Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG).

This is an online service operating between 9am to 5pm.

For more information on the Together South programme email Joshua Schneider; joshua.schneider@groundwork.org.uk

Telephone: 07912 274858

A list of voluntary and community sector organisations running schemes which provide support for and help match people coming from Ukraine with sponsors in the UK.

Find out more on GOV.UK

Free online service for learning English as a second language.

Find out more about Languagenut

MIFADELO global foundation is an international membership, non-profit making and volunteering organization with head office in the United Kingdom. We work with various organizations, other agencies and volunteers all over the world for poverty alleviation, ethnic and religious harmony, dispute resolution and reconciliation, wellness and health care.

Our services include the provision of food, clothing and shelter for the poor, the needy, the homeless people and the refugees. We welcome new members, partners, donors, sponsors, private individuals, businesses companies, other organizations and Agencies who are willing to promote our cause for the benefit of the public and the communities.

Telephone: 01322436040

Operating hours are between 9am to 5pm

92 Lower Road Belvedere, Bexley, DA176DZ

Email: info@royalmifadelofoundation.org

Find out more information from Mifadelo Global Foundation

The National Trust are providing free six month passes for National Trust sites. These will provide free entry to any individual refugee who are currently staying with an active National Trust member, and can be renewed as long as they are eligible.

The offer is available by emailing enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Online free learning platform with a variety of courses. Includes hub aimed at refugees specifically.

Find out more about Open University

Support

• we can offer support to people with mental health issues including anxiety depression, low mood PTSD to access training, volunteering and paid employment opportunities. We can support with CV building, jobs searching, applications and interview coaching etc
• we can offer to support to clients with learning disabilities in the form of workshops and sessions they can attend. 
• we can offer an informal meeting space and refreshments.
• we can offer space to be a collection point for donations. 
• we offer access to IT equipment, computers etc and IT training. 
• we can offer wellbeing packages through our WRAP project

We would really like to help in any way we can, so if there is something you need that is not covered in what we have listed it’s worth giving us a call to see if we can accommodate a request or direct you to someone who can help.

Our sites

We have two sites:

• Erith Town Centre at the Erith Riverside Shopping Centre. Map to Erith Town Centre
• Erith Community Hall on West Street in Erith next to St Johns Church. Map to Erith Community Hall

Opening hours

Usual operating hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, but we can make our space available at other times.

Getting in contact

by telephone:

• Gillian Simons - 01322 438 155 or 07719066506
• Simon Hart - 01322 438 155

by email:

• Gillian Simons - gsimons@re-isntate.co.uk
• Simon Hart - shart@re-instate.co.uk

We always aim to respond within 24 hours.

Rochester Diocese is a diverse and vibrant family of faith within the Church of England, covering the areas of Medway, north and west Kent and the London Boroughs of Bromley and Bexley.

The Diocese and its Local Churches will seek to provide a place of welcome for all families arriving in its local communities.

The offer will vary depending on the parish. However, at a high level, Ukrainian families will be offered hospitality, supported in their integration within Bexley as well as offered a place to meet with other Ukrainians.

Spiritual support will also be on offer.

A couple of events are being planned by St John’s Church, Sidcup:

• Drop-in clinic and welcome event for families who have arrived. This event will be attended by services from Bexley, NHS, BVSC etc. Tuesday 17 May from 3pm to 6pm
• Spiritual Service focusing on Ukraine – Sunday 29 May at 10am

Services and events will be posted on our website and Facebook pages ahead of time.

Find out more information from Rochester Diocese

Rochester Diocese can also be contacted by email on; ukraine2022@rochester.anglican.org or magali.vandermerwe@rochester.anglican.org

Support for Ukrainians in accessing work in the architecture sector.

Find out more about RIBA

Support for Ukrainians in accessing work or education in the civil/town planning market.

Find out more about RTPI

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) are looking for organisations who are keen to provide, sight loss awareness e-learning training, access to support services, free specialist equipment, advice on pet welfare, community connections, connection with local sight loss organisations.

Email PublicAffairs@rnib.org.uk to find out more.

The website has useful information for Ukrainians arriving in the UK, covering topics in depth such as benefits, work, childcare, renting, social housing and Ukrainian specific topics such as what to be aware of when going to back to Ukraine, changing sponsors and the best way to apply for things which can't be done online.

Find out more about Ukrainian Refugee Help.

Ukrainians Welcome - це спільна ініціатива британських організацій, що борються з рабством та за права людини. Її мета - надати корисну інформацію щодо безпеки та життя в цілому у Великобританії переміщеним українцям.

Ukrainians Welcome - это совместная инициатива британских организаций, борющихся с рабством и правами человека. Его целью является предоставление полезной информации о безопасности и жизни перемещенных украинцев в Великобритании в целом.

Ukrainians Welcome is a new website full of useful information for Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK. This website is aimed at refugees with a view to making your lives easier and keeping you safe from the very real threat of exploitation. The one-stop website includes information in English, Ukrainian and Russian relating to:

• health 
• travel
• legal
• work
• housing
• report
• support
• general
• finances
• family
• children

Visit the Ukrainians Welcome website to find out more:

• Ukrainian (Українська)
• Russian (Русский)
• English

Looking to provide advice to Ukrainians in the UK.

Find out more about Uyghur Tribunal

Offer to quickly mobilise volunteers to welcome families and identify, help with any practical needs in any part of the UK through national network of churches.

Volunteers can offer psychosocial support to families also.

Find out more about Welcome Churches