Role of sponsors/hosts, voluntary and community sector, councils, and where to focus tariff funding: Homes for Ukraine
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-15)

The role sponsors/hosts, the voluntary and community sector (VCS), and councils play in the scheme. Includes how tariff funding is designed for councils.

Role of sponsors/hosts

Sponsors/hosts should be aware that guests have experienced trauma and will have unique needs, experiences and worries. Councils may want to discuss these areas with sponsors/hosts:
- being sensitive to their guests’ needs
- risks of exploitation and abuse
- sources of support
Sponsors are required to:

Meet the eligibility and suitability requirements to be approved as a sponsor (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eligibility-safeguarding-dbs-and-accommodation-checks-homes-for-ukraine). These differ from eligibility and suitability requirements to be approved as a host (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/key-principles-scope-and-eligibility-homes-for-ukraine).

Provide suitable accommodation for a minimum of 6 months (with the exception of a parent or legal guardian who is sponsoring their child – in which case they must offer accommodation for the duration of their child’s visa). Accommodation needs to be free from serious health and safety hazards, ensuring the property is safe for guests and in a suitable condition, with considerations set out in the guidance for sponsors (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guides).

Check their mortgage lenders and their home insurer’s website for guidance. Sponsors (and hosts) should be aware of any existing terms that might apply to non-paying guests within their insurance policy and contact their insurer if they wish to discuss their cover or other changes in circumstances.

Stay in regular contact with their guests prior to their arrival to help organise and coordinate their arrival in the UK, meet them on arrival, and provide their guests with instructions on how to reach their accommodation if they are unable to meet them.

Support and help guests to adapt to life in the UK, initially checking if they have enough food and supplies such as toiletries, along with checking if they have access to a mobile phone and internet to stay in touch with family members.

Help direct their guests to public services, for example registering with a GP or NHS dentist, and applying for Universal Credit.

Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS)

A range of voluntary and community organisations operate in the UK and have supported Ukrainian guests adjust to life in the UK, such as the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB).

The government has also published a list of Recognised Providers (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-sponsor-using-recognised-providers-homes-for-ukraine), which provide support for people on the scheme and help to match people from Ukraine with sponsors in the UK.

Role of councils

Councils have an essential role to play in supporting people in their area under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. They are expected to offer support in many areas, which are explained in the sections below.

This is not an exclusive or exhaustive list but an indication of what types of support we know some councils are providing. It remains up to each council’s discretion to use available funding in ways that ensure that welcoming, safeguarding and settling, integration and work, long-term sustainable housing and reporting and data management are all being delivered effectively.

Where councils should focus tariff funding

The government provides tariff funding for councils across the UK of £5,900 per arrival in their area to support guests and their sponsors/hosts.

The tariff is un-ringfenced and it is therefore up to the discretion of local councils to spend the tariff according to local need and expertise.

We ask councils to prioritise their tariff funding to achieve the following key outcomes outlined below:
- Welcoming, safeguarding and settling in
- Integration and work
- Long-term sustainable housing
- Reporting and data management
Councils have the discretion to spend the tariff on activities outside of this list, provided that it is used to support the objectives of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. For example, this includes, but is not limited to, discretionary thank you payments top ups for those sponsoring/hosting Homes for Ukraine guests. Supporting Homes for Ukraine guests to continue in sponsorship during UPE might be one such activity. The tariff should only be used to support UPE guests if they were previously Homes for Ukraine visa holders.

More information on the conditions on use of the tariff funding are set out in grant determination letters (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-funding) which are published quarterly. The government will continue to work with councils to be assured that spending in relation to the scheme is in line with both grant conditions and our priorities for the scheme.

The Homes for Ukraine tariff grant is capped at one tariff per guest. Councils should not claim tariffs for a guest in respect of whom a tariff has previously been claimed, including where a tariff was previously claimed by a different council. This could occur, for example, if a guest has returned to the UK on a second Homes for Ukraine visa. Councils should ask guests coming into their area for the first time if this is the case to verify whether a tariff was already claimed.

Welcome, safeguarding and settling in

Councils should ensure guests (including unaccompanied minors) are housed within safe arrangements, and sponsors/hosts are adequately supported, including through timely payment of thank you payments.

This should include:
- sponsor/host and guest safeguarding checks
- accommodation checks
- welfare checks
- initial support such as interim cash for new guests and transport arrangements
- paying thank you payments on time
- service referrals such as adult social care, children services and mental health services
This could also include:
- ensuring sponsors/hosts and guests are aware of the support available to them in the local community and provided by the council, such as coffee mornings, charity outreach, and citizens advice
- ensuring sponsors/hosts are supported in helping guests create bank accounts and access other public services such as the GP
Integration and work

Councils should support guests to access economic opportunities in the UK, including work and/ or education, providing them with wraparound integration support, for instance English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision and other interventions aimed at identifying and addressing the needs of guests.

This should include:
- supporting guests to access local Jobcentres Plus appointments for benefit assessment and finding jobs
- signposting guests to help available from Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Transport
- supporting guests with public service referrals
- working with voluntary sector to assist with CV writing and interview skills
- working to increase employment opportunities through running drop-in sessions and career advice
This could also include:
- supporting guests to access ESOL training through the Adult Education Budget and Level 3 Free Courses for Job Offer and Skills Bootcamps
- organising and running community events, to increase interaction with Ukrainians and people in the local area
- working with community champions and interfaith networks
- developing networks of Ukrainians to meet other people who may be experiencing similar issues
Long-term sustainable housing

Under the scheme, councils also support guests into secure, safe, and sustainable accommodation, including through appropriate Private Rented Sector (PRS) access schemes, such as support for one off costs. This also includes supporting the longevity of sponsorship.

This could include:
- working with guests and sponsors/hosts as they approach the end of sponsorship arrangements to ensure that guests understand what their move-on accommodation options are and where appropriate, encouraging sponsorship to continue
- supporting guests to overcome barriers to accessing PRS, such as by supporting with deposits, rent advances, rent top ups or furniture
- supporting guests to find a new host or ‘rematch’ where necessary, including ratifying VCS-led or self-rematches
- supporting Ukrainians who present as homeless, despite interventions being made
Reporting and data management

Councils should maintain accurate records.

This should include:
- updating Share Homes for Ukraine data system (“Share”) as soon as possible and ideally on a weekly basis
- updating DELTA within designated time frames
- ensuring records on ‘thank you’ payments are kept up to date
- recording rematching data
- conducting regular checks to counter fraud and error
This could also include:
- maintaining records regarding the end of sponsorships and guests move-on plans, such as returning to Ukraine, moving to another council or moving to own accommodation via into PRS