Call for 100 Cornish hosts to house Ukrainian families

Truro nurse Pernille Johansen said hosting a Ukrainian family was like "having good friends staying"

Cornwall Council has launched a campaign to recruit 100 new hosts to support families fleeing from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Since 2022, more than 300 Cornish residents have already opened their doors to Ukrainian arrivals.

Cornwall Council's resettlement service said many had extended their initial commitments of six or 12 months.

But it said as the war in Ukraine intensifies the number of Ukrainians needing accommodation has increased.

'Missile strikes'

Serena Collins, strategic lead for the council's resettlement service, said there was a growing need for homes with two or more rooms available for Ukrainian families.

"We are launching a campaign to recruit 100 new hosts across Cornwall so that we can continue to support Ukrainians in Cornwall and those who, due to intensifying winter conditions, will flee the warzone in need of accommodation," she said.

Pernille Johansen, a nurse in Truro, said hosting a family was a great opportunity.

"When I first met my guests they were still traumatised from missile strikes and life underground but we soon settled down and soon it was literally like having good friends staying," she said.

"It's such a wonderful opportunity to help people who are in an awful situation through no fault of their own."

Cornwall Council said hosts could benefit from thank you payments of £500 per month as well as a range of support from Cornwall's Resettlement Service and national agencies.