Homes for Ukraine scheme (2023-24) sponsorship household thank you payment grant determination No. 31/6905 (England)
Published 31 October 2023
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The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (“Secretary of State”) in exercise of the powers conferred by section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003, makes the following determination:
Citation
1. This determination may be cited as the Homes for Ukraine sponsor thank you grant No. 31/6905.
Purpose of the grant
2. The main purpose of the Homes for Ukraine sponsor thank you grant is to support local authorities to make monthly thank you payments direct to sponsoring households within the scheme for 2 years, or for up to 3 years where relevant for children and minors not travelling with or joining their parent or guardian in the UK.
3. Sponsoring households are eligible to receive £350 per month (for a guest’s first 12 months) and £500 per month (after 12 months of a guest’s stay in the UK and up to 24 months).
4. These payments are optional for the sponsoring household. Sponsors of unaccompanied minors are eligible for thank you payments while the child stays with them for up to 3 years. The level of thank you payment for sponsors of eligible minors in year 3 remains under review.
5. The uplifted thank you payment (£500 per month, after 12 months and up to 24 months) will be payable starting from the 2023/24 Q1 payment round.
Determination
6. The Secretary of State determines the authorities to which grant is to be paid and the amount of grant to be paid as set out in Annex A of this determination.
7. The grant will be paid in arrears based on the number of legitimate payments made by local authorities to eligible sponsors who have met the requirements for approval as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Payments will be made every quarter for 2 years, or for up to 3 years where relevant for children and minors not travelling with or joining their parent or guardian in the UK.
8. In two tier areas, the grant will be paid to upper tier authorities.
Grant conditions
9. Pursuant to section 31(5) of the Local Government Act 2003, the Secretary of State determines that the grant will be paid subject to the following conditions in Annex B.
HM Treasury consent
10. Before making this determination in relation to local authorities, the Secretary of State obtained the consent of HM Treasury.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State.
Emma Payne
Director, Homes for Ukraine Programme
UK government branding
11. The Grant Recipient shall at all times during and following the end of the Funding Period:
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comply with requirements of the Branding Manual in relation to the Funded Activities; and
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cease use of the Funded by UK Government logo on demand if directed to do so by the Authority.
12. Branding Manual means the HM Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ‘Funded by UK Government branding manual’ first published by the Cabinet Office in November 2022 including any subsequent updates from time to time.
Annex A: Grant allocations
[Grant allocations are attached as a separate document].
Annex B: Grant conditions
Pursuant to section 31(5) of the Local Government Act 2003, the Secretary of State determines that the grant will be paid subject to the following conditions:
1. Payments to sponsors should only be paid in accordance with circumstances set out in the Homes for Ukraine guidance for councils (linked at Annex C) and should not be released until:
a. For sponsors of guests arriving on the Homes for Ukraine scheme:
- a visit to the sponsoring household property, by the local authority, has been completed; and
- the local authority has confirmed that the accommodation is suitable, that the guest is well and that there are no serious safeguarding or welfare concerns.
b. For sponsors of children and minors not travelling with or joining their parent or guardian arriving on the Homes for Ukraine scheme:
- all safeguarding and accommodation checks have been completed including the local authority-led sponsor suitability assessment, and the local authority has confirmed that the arrangement is suitable based on the factors set out in the guidance, and;
- the local authority has completed the initial post-arrival visit, consistent with the requirements set out in the scheme and private fostering guidance, confirming the suitability of the living arrangements and establishing any immediate welfare needs.
2. A recipient authority must ensure thank you payments to eligible sponsoring households who request them are made as soon as practicable.
3. Where the amount of grant paid to an authority in accordance with Annex A exceeds the authority’s actual pressures (based on the number of legitimate payments to eligible sponsorship households in their area), the difference shall be repaid to the Secretary of State. In addition, if the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is made aware that an authority is in breach of the grant conditions above, it reserves the right to recover funding.