Special team being set up to provide support for refugees

'Our duty is to help them rebuild their lives'

Leicestershire County Council is setting up a team to provide vital support for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The team will work with partner agencies helping to make sure refugees have access to services such as accommodation, safeguarding, healthcare, education, translation and employment.

Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton said: "We are under no illusions about the scale of the challenge we face in making sure Ukrainians who have escaped the humanitarian crisis, caused by Russia’s brutal invasion and destruction of their homeland, find safe refuge here.
 
"The people, mainly women children and the elderly, arriving will have suffered horrendously and will have been traumatised by the violence President Putin has inflicted on them. Our duty is to help them rebuild their lives so it is crucial we have a well-resourced team to co-ordinate that effort.
 
"I’m very pleased the Government has promised local authorities substantial financial support to help refugees."
 
Under a Government scheme, a large number of Ukrainians will be able to come to the UK and - while no precise numbers have been outlined yet - a share of them will come to the county.

Further information about the scheme is available on the county council’s Ukraine webpage.