Some Ukrainian refugees have been placed in such remote rural locations in North Yorkshire that they are “entirely dependent” on host families to do anything.

A meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s corporate and partnerships scrutiny committee heard while experience had shown refugees often prefer being placed in groups of people from their own communities in urban settings, the isolated locations of some well-meaning sponsors meant Ukrainians had access to little or no services.

Around 180 homes in North Yorkshire were made available to Ukraine refugees, with Harrogate taking part in rehoming some of those fleeing the conflict.

The issue was raised after the meeting was told the Home Office was continuing to consider whether to go ahead with controversial plans to launch a centre for up to 1,500 male asylum seekers at Linton on Ouse, a village with few facilities and little public transport.

While a lack of services for the non-detained asylum seekers at the former RAF Linton on Ouse base has been highlighted as a major concern, councillors questioned whether some Ukrainians placed into remote North Yorkshire homes were facing similar issues.

The meeting heard the top priorities for most refugees arriving in the county was getting a job and finding a school for their children, practicalities that were more difficult in rural and remote areas.

Wharfedale councillor Richard Foster, who is also Craven District Council’s leader, said: 

“We have plenty of people giving up their houses and volunteering, but it isn’t the targeted approach taking people to areas we’re used to, it’s very much scattergun across the county.

“In rural areas people must be able to access bus services and that sort of thing. It’s great that people are willing to do it, but it is going to cause issues.”

Read more:

• 180 homes in North Yorkshire ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees
• Harrogate’s John Shackleton hoping to deliver ambulance to Ukraine
• Ripon MP urges Boris Johnson to take ‘more humane approach’ to Ukraine refugees

The meeting was told the authority had no control over the process, which involved hosts volunteering themselves and basic checks being undertaken by the Home Office.

Councillors heard visas were being issued irrespective of checks, such as housing suitability, that local authorities were undertaking. Host sponsors were regularly contacting the local authority to ask about services once the Ukrainian refugees had arrived, members were told.

Officers told the meeting the voluntary host system was creating challenges, particularly as many of the refugees were “in degrees of trauma” having just left a war-torn country.

One officer said:

“Let’s not underestimate the willingness of sponsors to do that, that’s really great. I’m not entirely convinced that all of them thought through what they were taking on.”

He added while the vast majority of sponsorships were working well, some had broken down for different reasons, including illness.

The officer said: 

“There are people placed in remote rural areas and we as a local authority would not have chosen to locate people there because of the lack of public transport.

“There are some, a small number, who are entirely dependent on their sponsor for absolutely everything. We would always try and place people where there is public transport and they can have some access and independence.”

Harrogate man Paul Ivison has given his landmark garden a Ukraine-themed makeover to raise money for the Disaster Emergency Fund.

Mr Ivison has lived in his house on the corner of Mayfield Grove and Mayfield Terrace for over 15 years and likes to decorate his garden with different themes.

When the Stray Ferret visited last summer, he had created a loud and proud mental health-themed garden to raise money for Mind.

For winter, he created a ‘Toytropolis’ with toys to make children and their parents smile.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s ‘Toytropolis’ garden bringing smiles to children’s faces
• Harrogate man says ‘outrageous, camp and wild’ garden saved his life

This time he wants to support the humanitarian effort in Ukraine and also pay tribute to Poland for housing two million refugees.

During the 1990s, Mr Ivison was the manager of LGBT magazine, Now UK, and he is also displaying photos he took of celebrities including Graham Norton, Lily Savage and Ian McKellen.

The garden is open to visitors seven days a week and all of the toys are for sale. It’s been sponsored by the sweets supplier Maltese Connections. Some pictures are below:

To donate to his fundraiser visit here.

After receiving a hero’s welcome from the mayor of Ripon, Ukrainian Tanya Bogdanovska is looking forward to rebuilding her life in the city.

Councillor Eamon Parkin, along with his consort Nigel Guy, greeted Ms Bogdanovska, her partner Lewis Edwards and his mother Ali, at The Magdalen’s pub.

To a round of applause, he spoke of the heroism of the young couple who have captured the hearts and minds of the Ripon community.

In her first media interview, Ms Bogdanovska, who made the long journey to seek sanctuary in the UK with support from her partner and his family in Ripon, told the Stray Ferret:

“All of the time, I think about Ukraine and the ongoing suffering of the people there facing Russian aggression and cruelty.

“Thankfully, members of my family managed to escape the attacks on Zaporizhzhia and move to a safer part of the country, but I have friends who didn’t make it.”

The flag of Ukraine has been flying over Ripon Town Hall in a show of solidarity.

Ms Bogdanovska said:

“On February 24, Lewis and I were teaching children and the next day we were fleeing for our lives, heading for the Slovakian border.”

Having made the 500-kilometre journey on roads packed with cars and coaches carrying  women, children and men over the age of 60 to the safe haven of a NATO country, they and eight friends set up a shelter to help fellow refugees following on behind them.

The shelter was set up largely through the generosity of Ripon people, who read of their plight on the Stray Ferret and dug deep to donate more than £20,000 to a gofundme page launched by Lewis’s family,

Before setting up the page, they received invaluable advice from Nicola David, chair of Ripon City of Sanctuary.

Mr Edwards said:

“Tanya and I stayed for as long as we could in Slovakia but, as we were officially refugees ourselves, there was a limit on the time we could be there.

“However, we and our eight friends were able to help those on their journey to seeking sanctuary and people who were left trapped in Ukraine, by providing vital supplies such as medicines and sourcing military ambulances.

“It was a surreal situation to find ourselves in, but we knew we had to do something.”

Since his recent return to Ripon, Mr Lewis and Ms Bogdanovska have been welcomed with open arms everywhere they go. She said:

“We are grateful for the kindness and love that we have received and are moved by the support being given to my countrymen and women who remain fearless in their fight against the Russians.”

As part of getting her life back on track, Ms Bogdanovska is seeking employment from any local company that may be looking for a graphic designer and illustrator.

A Harrogate husband and wife have taken in two members of a Ukrainian family but say the “crazy amounts of red tape” meant it wasn’t an easy process.

David and Clare Price live in North Rigton and, after seeing the atrocities of war in Ukraine, wanted to try and help.

The pair said the most difficult part was finding a family to match with. Mr and Mrs Price spoke to multiple families but chaos at the Polish border meant they’d lose touch with them as they were forced to move.

Instead the pair found a family through word of mouth when a Harrogate-based lawyer who was trying to find homes for her family, heard of their offer to help.

Mr and Mrs Price have taken in a grandmother and young child from one family – the mother and other young child went to another Harrogate home.

The refugees have been living with Mr and Mrs Price for two weeks now.  They have found a Harrogate primary school for the children to attend and are hopeful their three-year visas will be confirmed this week.

Read more:

• Starbeck shows support for Ukraine with giant painted flag
• Ripon fundraisers for Ukraine aim to beat £20,000 target

Mr Price said the British government should make the process easier:

“We couldn’t look away from the images on TV, we knew we had to help. We are fortunate to have space in the house to accommodate people but the process wasn’t easy.

“Our government doesn’t make it easy like others, we should be helping as many people as we can.”

Despite the struggles, Mr Price said it hasn’t put him off offering his home to more refugees. He said once their current house guests have found rental accommodation locally they will be looking to house more Ukrainians.

In the meantime, he is showing the whole family around the Harrogate district which they describe as “gorgeous”.

He said Harrogate and Knaresborough, in particular, have numerous support groups set up for refugees to allow them to talk to each other and share any feelings.

Mr Price, an author and public speaker, added:

“You don’t get trained for this, it’s a lot for people to take on because the families you take in need a lot of support. It’s an incredibly heartbreaking time for them.”

Ripon’s support for refugees

The generosity of Ripon’s citizens has been seen in many ways across the city, as the community has rallied to the call for help from the people of Ukraine.

Regular collections have been taken by the Rotary Club of Ripon as part of a UK-wide appeal in support of Ukraine.

In a sign of solidarity, the flag of Ukraine continues to fly on Ripon Town Hall

The Magdalens pub on Princess Road has also held two major fundraising events in support of the a gofundme page launched by the Edwards family.

Son Lewis and his Ukrainian partner Tanya Bogdanovska, along with eight friends, set up a shelter in Slovakia in late February to assist refugees and the humanitarian work continues, with money raised in Ripon.

Read more:

• Ripon club offers a free introduction to croquet
• Tickets on sale for Ripon’s first Theatre Festival

A target of £20,000 has been exceeded and Lewis’ mother, Ali Edwards, said :

“We have no further fundraisers planned and would like to thank the many kind-hearted people, whose donations of money, raffle prizes, facilities and time, helped us from day one.”

She pointed out:

“Though Lewis and Tanya are no longer in Slovakia, the programme that they helped to set up, is continuing to support women, children and men over the age of 60 who have been forced to flee Ukraine. “

After a number of frustrating hold-ups, Nidderdale Community Welcome (NCW) has finally found a house for a refugee family from Syria.

The group, founded in late 2020, has raised more than £13,000 to fund the initiative and had originally hoped to bring a family here before Christmas.

But the house they had in prospect did not materialise.

Now there is positive news and NCW chair, Peter Wright, told the Stray Ferret:

“A local landlord has kindly agreed the rental of a three-bedroom property in Pateley Bridge for a minimum period of two years.”

With this key element of the resettlement support  programme in place, NCW has submitted its application to the Home Office, uprating from ‘approval in principle’ to ‘final approval.’

Peter Wright of Nidderdale Community Welcome, anticipates that a refugee family from Syria will be arriving in Pateley Bridge this summer

Mr Wright, pointed out:

“It is anticipated it will be granted shortly, with a view to a family being welcomed into the Dale in early summer.”

He added:

“We have decided to stay with our original intentions of welcoming a Syrian family, many from Syria are still in camps in the Middle East whilst the conflict in their country continues.

“We have every sympathy with those from other countries displaced by war, Afghanistan and Ukraine who we hold in our thoughts and prayers, we believe the support we can offer best suits a vulnerable family from Syria.

“NCW will assist the family to sign up for all the allowances they will be eligible for as part of our national response and commitment to those displaced by conflict.

“Refugees are keen to be a valuable part of the community they move into, and to integrate as soon as they are able, but many also wish to be able to return home as soon as conditions allow.”

NCW is working in conjunction with Ripon City of Sanctuary and Harrogate District of Sanctuary, who will be helping the family learn English so they can become self-sufficient and participate in daily life. Courses will be run both locally and in nearby towns.

People from around the dale and further afield have already provided funding, resources, and their time and skills towards making the NCW project a success.

Read more:

• Rare birds return to Nidderdale moors
• Plans to build 15 flats at Daleside Garage site in Pateley Bridge

Ukrainians who have fled war in their homeland have started to arrive in North Yorkshire, where around 180 households will welcome the refugees into their homes.

Council officials said the first refugees will be housed “very shortly” under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allows residents to sponsor a Ukrainian.

Those who have signed up as hosts will have their homes checked by local councils to ensure they are suitable.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said the process also includes background checks on sponsors and arranging education for refugee children.

The spokesperson said: 

“In partnership with our colleagues at North Yorkshire Council County, North Yorkshire Police and the other district councils across North Yorkshire, we are working together to do whatever is necessary to help Ukrainians fleeing the ongoing devastation.

“Early data indicates around 180 households across the county have signed-up and are likely to receive guests, some very shortly.”

The government-led scheme has been criticised for not working quickly enough to grant visas to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

Read more:

• Ripon fundraisers for Ukraine aim to beat £20,000 target
• Harrogate’s John Shackleton hoping to deliver ambulance to Ukraine

There are also concerns that councils have not been provided all the information they need to run the programme.

Craven District Council has signed up to the scheme and said it was awaiting guidance on when the home checks should take place and how they will work.

It also said it was awaiting more information on how payments will be made to hosts.

Paul Ellis, director of services at Craven District Council, said: 

“Our officers are taking the necessary steps to support our Ukrainian friends escaping the violence in their homeland.

“The government is providing funding of £10,500 per person to councils to enable them to provide support to families.

“This will be reimbursed for paying sponsors £350 per month, tax-free, for up to 12 months. Again, we are awaiting further government guidance on this.”

Unlike other refugee schemes, the government is assuming that all local authorities will participate, rather than inviting them to take part.

As well as individual households – charities, community groups and businesses can also apply to bring Ukrainians to safety, including those with no family ties to the UK.

In the first phase of the scheme, people will need the name of a specific Ukrainian individual or family they wish to sponsor.

The government advises them to “get in contact with them directly, and prepare to fill in a visa application with all their details and yours”.

Those who don’t personally know anyone fleeing Ukraine can still register their interest on the government’s website.

A month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lewis Edwards is planning to return to his home city of Ripon with Ukrainian partner Tanya Bogdanovska.

Teachers Mr Edwards and Ms Bogdanovska fled Kyiv, where they had been working at a private school, on February 25.

Joining the mass migration of refugees who sought safety in neighbouring NATO countries, they arrived in Slovakia.

There, they and eight friends created a shelter to help Ukrainian women, children and men over 60 find sanctuary in other parts of Europe.

This morning Mr Edwards told the Stray Ferret:

“We are awaiting the outcome of Tanya’s application to travel with me to the UK and once all is in place, our plan is to head straight to Ripon.

“That will give us time to find our feet again, while being with family, friends and meeting some of people who have been so generous in supporting our work with refugees.”

Former soldier Mike Heelan is also returning home to Harrogate after travelling to Slovakia to help. Mr Edwards said:

“I would like to say a massive thank you to Mike Heelan, who came over from Harrogate when he read about what we have been doing in Slovakia.

“His help has been invaluable and we will be wishing him well when he heads off back to the UK later today.”

Former soldier Mike Heelan is returning to Harrogate.

---

Fundraising for Ukraine to continue

Their efforts have been supported by a gofundme page launched by Mr Edwards’ family. More than £19,000 has been raised.

Though they are leaving Slovakia, the fundraising will continue.

Mr Edwards’ mother, Ali, said:

“We are excited that he will be returning to the UK with Tanya and look forward to their safe arrival in Ripon.

“Though they leaving Slovakia, we are committed to continuing the fundraising for the people of Ukraine, who face a desperate situation for the foreseeable future. The monies raised will go to other groups who will be providing humanitarian assistance.”

The flag of Ukraine flies above Ripon Town Hall

Cllr Parkin, said:

“We already have the flag of Ukraine flying on the town hall and Lewis and Tanya will be welcomed as heroes, when they arrive in the city.”

Funds raised in Ripon have been used to source ambulances, buy and transport vital medical supplies and food and provide shelter.

This work will continue, through the increased involvement of the Slovakian government, acting in liaison with humanitarian aid agencies and on-the-ground volunteer groups.

Starbeck nurses Andy Dennis and Tracey Hill are to embark on a mammoth 2000km charity cycle ride from Amsterdam to Gibraltar.

The trip is to raise money for a charity close to their hearts, which offers vital medical care for those who need it around the world.

The couple hopes the journey will raise £30,000 for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

An impressive £115,000 has already been raised for the charity to reach their overall target of £200,000, which was set in 2010.

It’s the third major fundraising effort they have undertaken for MSF. In 2011, Mr Dennis walked from Amsterdam to Barcelona and in 2016, the couple cycled across the USA.

Ms Hill said:

“We are raising money to give to MSF so they can use it to help people who are desperately in need of healthcare. That’s relevant right now as MSF are in Ukraine. We’re trying our best to get the word out to raise as much money as we can.”

Ukraine crisis

MSF’s medical teams act fast to save people’s lives in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics and go to where they are needed most.

MSF works in over 70 countries and has health workers in Ukraine at the moment.

Mr Dennis has worked in Uganda, South Sudan and Sierra Leone for MSF

Specialist teams are in hospitals in the war-torn country treating wounded people, providing surgical care, emergency medicine and mental health support.

Mr Dennis said donations big or small are greatly appreciated.

“There’s no such thing as a small donation, it impacts someone somewhere.

“£3 can pay for an oxygen mask, for example. We can’t change the world but you can change the life for the person sat in a clinic and bring them healthcare access they wouldn’t normally have.”

Read more:

• Defibrillator saves man’s life in Starbeck
• ‘Community goodwill’ helped to overcome anti-mosque campaign, says Harrogate Islamic Association

‘All about grit’

The trip will take three months, which they will break up so they have time to rest and connect with local media outlets to promote the fundraiser.

Mr Dennis is an ICU nurse at Harrogate District Hospital and Ms Hill is a dermatology nurse at York Hospital. Both of their employers have supported them by giving them time off with some unpaid leave.

Ms Hill said the endurance trip will be “all about grit”.

“You find out the core of you, you peel back so much and you know how determined you are. It’s all about grit, can you tolerate being dirty every day? If you find a river, you go for it.”

The couple cycling in the USA in 2016.

Mr Dennis added:

“What Tracey described is the every day life of the people we are raising money for. We are choosing to do this to make a bit of difference.”

Proud Starbeck man

Mr Dennis has a reputation in Harrogate as a caring and compassionate member of the local community.

The proud Starbeck man said, “I’m not Bob Geldof”, but wants to show how anyone can make a difference in the world.

He said:

“I was no achiever but I was interested in biology at school and it was the only subject I was good at. Combine biology with compassion you find nursing at the end. It’s an incredible job, it might not look attractive with jaded looking nurses on the TV during covid, but I’ve travelled the world.”

All money raised for the trip, which they have called Ride To The Rock, will go to the MSF and the couple will pay for all expenses themselves. It will start in May.

They are also looking for corporate sponsors too. You can email Andy at andy4msf@pm.me for more information.

Their websites are www.andy4msf.com and www.thecyclingnurse.co.uk

To donate, visit the JustGiving page.

John Harris writes in a personal capacity. He is chair of Harrogate District of Sanctuary.

How can we as individuals respond to yet another terrible humanitarian crisis?

In the scale of horrors visited on fellow human beings, few things compare with having to abandon everything and flee your home and country to escape death or persecution or the complete destruction of your settled life.

Here in Harrogate, as in towns across the country, we have refugee families adjusting as best they can to a new life — the result of humanitarian disasters in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

Now the horror of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is unfolding. It includes wanton destruction of towns, indiscriminate killing of civilians, untold numbers sheltering underground and the creation of 1.5 million refugees in a week.

What can we do? Certainly our government needs to focus on deeds not words. Please spare us the overseas photo ops and forget the stupid populist boasts (‘leading the world’). Just get on with sorting out what needs to be done.

Read more:

• Ripon man helping Ukraine says ambulances are being shot by Russians
• What role is the US spy base at Menwith Hill playing in the war in Ukraine?

Amid our feeling of helplessness and despair, let’s think of some things we can do:

Lobby our MPs, sign the petitions, join the protest marches and urge the government to:
• Reduce further the refugee visa requirements immediately (the minister suggesting applying for a temporary work visa as a fruit picker and turning back Ukrainians in Calais where there is no Home Office processing is shameful). The requirements are far from as generous as will be needed if, as has been suggested, up to 200,000 Ukrainians are to be given sanctuary here
• Drop the restrictive elements of the Nationality and Borders Bill by accepting the many amendments proposed by the House of Lords e.g. so that refugees are not criminalised by arriving in the UK by an ‘irregular’ route.
• Introduce (not just talk about it with false promises/claims) sanctions against the Russian state, banks, companies and individuals. Action on Russian ‘dirty’ money is glacial. Reports suggest that a minimal number of people and companies have actually been sanctioned yet in the UK while other governments act.
• Support the Ukrainian government with requested supplies as they resist the invasion of their country.
• Introduce a settlement scheme of some kind for the Refugee Council and associated City of Sanctuary charities to operate.

Individuals can also:

• Support NGO charitable organisations working with refugees that are appealing for funds. When in doubt which one, support the Disaster Emergency Fund appeal.
• Support local community efforts, for example by joining as members and volunteers of a local City of Sanctuary charity when it appeals for help. Keep an eye on social media for details of what is needed.

It is tragic that there are still 12,000 Afghan refugees in hotels, months after their arrival in UK. What is even more terrible for Ukraine is that we are warned that, unbelievably, the devastation and killing can only get worse and the 1.5 million who have fled to date are only a start.