Ukrainian sponsor in Cambridge says matches and visas take too long

Viktoriia Ostapets and her daughter Elina said they were desperate to get out of Ukraine

A business offering a home to a Ukrainian refugee family said waiting to be matched and the visa process were "unacceptably" long.

Costello Medical has had a flat ready in Cambridge since March.

It was matched with Viktoriia Ostapets and her relatives in September via a charity, but the family were still waiting for their British visas.

The government said it was having to carry out extra checks, due to Ms Ostapets bringing her young niece.

Ms Ostapets applied to come to the UK from Lviv 10 weeks ago with her father, daughter Elina and niece Renata, who she is legally responsible for.

The Ukrainian city is near the Polish border, but was hit by missiles not long after the Russian invasion began in February, with fresh strikes last week.

Bomb damage in Lviv, a city on Ukraine's border with Poland

The British government said it had to ensure two forms of parental checks were carried out before a visa could be issued for her niece.

The flat owned by Costello Medical, a medical communications agency, is normally used by visiting staff.

Laura Morgan of Costello Medical says the process of bringing a refugee family to the UK "has not been entirely straightforward"

Costello said it was matched with the family after reaching out to British charity, MAD Foundation, which is working on the ground in Ukraine.

"We went quite a few weeks without hearing anything [from the government scheme] once we registered our interest as a sponsor," said the firm's Laura Morgan.

"We really hope they're here this side of Christmas. I think 10 weeks is unacceptable to leave these people wondering what's going to happen.

"If you're going to create this Homes for Ukraine scheme then you need to make sure you're delivering on that commitment to helping people."

The flat owned by Costello Medical will house the Ukrainian refugee family

The government began its Homes for Ukraine scheme in March, to find host families and businesses in the UK for refugees.

"More than 142,000 Homes for Ukraine visas have been issued and we are working at pace to approve visas as quickly as possible," the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said in a statement.

It added it was aware of the family's case, but said: "It is only right enhanced safeguarding checks take place before we issue visas to under-18s travelling without their parent or guardian.

"As agreed with the Ukrainian government, visas will only be issued if they have the correct parental consent and once these checks have taken place."

Mo Hornik of the MAD Foundation which helped place a family with the Cambridge firm

Mo Hornik, of the MAD Foundation, said there was still a "huge amount of demand" from refugees, but that "unfortunately there aren't as many sponsors left in the UK who are willing to accept families".

She said just having the opportunity to have six months in the UK would have a "huge impact on people's lives".