Hayling Island vicar urges more people to take in Ukraine refugees

Rev Gaffin said taking in Ukrainian families had been a "wonderful experience"

A vicar has described building "lifetime" friendships with Ukrainian refugees she homed and urged others to consider doing the same.

Rev Jenny Gaffin, based in Hayling Island, Hampshire, was inspired by the story of her grandparents who were refugees after World War Two.

She said taking in two families brought "energy and joy" into the home.

Rev Gaffin was speaking as the National Audit Office praised the impact of the Homes For Ukraine scheme.

The scheme enables people to act as sponsors for Ukrainian nationals and their families seeking refuge from the war, with individuals being granted three-year visas to stay in the UK.

Rev Gaffin grandparents (pictured) were refugees and this inspired her to want to help

Rev Gaffin said: "When I first saw the footage of the war in Ukraine I was reminded so forcefully of my own maternal grandparents who were Hungarian refugees after the Second World War.

"So of course I wanted to do what I could. I had spare room in the vicarage and I really wanted to welcome people into my home."

She sponsored two families - Kateryna and her seven-year-old daughter Nelya, as well as Anna and her five-year-old son Leonid.

Going from a single person vicarage to family life with a language barrier was a "big shock at first but in a very good way", she said, but that the situation was ultimately a "wonderful experience".

Generosity from people like Rev Gaffin enabled the government to move at speed to temporarily support Ukrainians seeking refuge, supporting 131,000 Ukrainians arriving into the UK since March 2022.

Rev Gaffin took in Kateryna (left) and Anna after they fled Ukraine following the outbreak of the war

But the National Audit Office said about 8% of Ukrainian refugees are facing homelessness after the scheme ends.

Payments to help host families have now increased from £350 to £500 a month.

Rev Gaffin urged others to take part in scheme but cautioned those considering it to be "realistic about what you can offer".

"I've formed a friendship that I know will last me a lifetime so do, if you are able to offer a space in your home, please do consider it - it's a wonderful thing to do," she added.

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