Parents intending to leave their child in the care of a sponsor: Homes for Ukraine
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-31)

What you need to do if you need to leave your children in the care of your sponsor, or if you can't travel with your children to the UK.

If your child, under the age of 18, is coming to the UK without you, they could be particularly vulnerable. We have a separate process for this type of application. Applicants must meet different eligibility criteria, and sponsors must have enhanced safeguarding checks. The online application form for sponsors of children not travelling with their parent or legal guardian should be completed (https://apply-to-offer-homes-for-ukraine.service.gov.uk/sponsor-a-child).

If you have applied to come to the UK with your children through the main Homes for Ukraine scheme, you must travel with them to the UK.

When you are in the UK, you should not leave your child in the care of a sponsor (or an accompanying adult relative) for 28 days or more. You also should not leave your child the care of a sponsor for shorter periods on a regular basis. Sponsors of children who arrived with their parent or legal guardian will not have expected to take on the responsibility for a child who is not with their parent or legal guardian and will not have had the necessary safeguarding checks.

What you must do before you leave your child with your sponsor

If in very exceptional circumstances you can’t travel with your child or children to the UK or need to leave them in the care of the sponsor for 28 days or more, you must take certain steps. Before you leave your child or children you must have:
- agreed how long the sponsor will be responsible for your children
- got the consent of the sponsor to take on additional responsibility as a sponsor of a child under 18
- told the council and give them written consent. You should use this version of the UK sponsorship arrangement consent form (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians)
- waited for the council to successfully complete any additional safeguarding checks required (including a sponsor suitability assessment) before the child travels to the UK or before the parent or legal guardian leaves their child in the care of the sponsor.
You must follow the steps above for any situation where you need to leave your child in the care of your sponsor for 28 days or more, including if:
- you can’t travel with your child to the UK
- if you are returning to Ukraine temporarily
- if you are moving to another UK address for work
The above steps should all be completed before you leave your child. You should also contact your local council to find out if your temporary absence may affect your entitlement to any services you are currently receiving.

If you intend to leave your child in the care of a close family member (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-sponsors-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians#adult), the close family member will not be recognised as a new ‘sponsor’ and will not be able to claim thank you payments.

If you go abroad, you can continue to get Universal Credit for up to one month.

You must:
- be eligible for Universal Credit when you’re going abroad
- remain eligible for it while you’re abroad
- tell your work coach that you’re going, and let them know when you return
If you leave the UK, you should stay in frequent contact with your sponsor and your child and keep them updated about any changes to your plans (for example if you need to be away for longer than you originally thought).

If your sponsor can no longer look after your children

If a sponsorship arrangement between a sponsor and a child who is under 18 and is not with their parent or legal guardian breaks down or is ended by the council for child welfare or safeguarding reasons, the council may need to accommodate your child. The council will try to contact you to understand how you want your child to be cared for if this happens.

You can read more information about the council’s responsibility in these situations (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians).