Home for Ukraine: One in five Ukrainians in South East return home

A fifth of Ukrainians who came to live in the South East have since returned home

A fifth of Ukrainians who arrived in Surrey, Kent and Sussex as part of a government visa scheme have returned to their war-torn home, figures reveal.

Charities and MPs have warned of people struggling to secure accommodation and professional work, as well as dwindling numbers of UK hosts.

Kent MP Sir Roger Gale said many qualifications held by Ukrainians were unrecognised in the UK.

The government said extra funding had been provided to support Ukrainians.

By 23 January this year, the South East welcomed 12,797 refugees under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which paired those fleeing with UK hosts.

Surrey is the authority that has welcomed the most Ukrainians under the scheme, followed by Kent, while West and East Sussex are within the top 10.

However, a BBC investigation has revealed that 20% of those arrivals have since returned to Ukraine.

Sir Roger Gale's son hosted a family the MP met in Calais

Conservative MP for North Thanet Sir Roger Gale told the BBC that many returnees were "professional people" whose qualifications went unrecognised in the UK, leaving them unable to work in their chosen careers.

This included one of his constituents, a dentist with 16 years experience in Ukraine, who now wanted to return home.

General Dental Council advice stipulates that dentists with qualifications from Ukraine must take an exam to practice in the UK.

"We need to take a long, hard look at the qualifications that people have got and how we can allow them to use those skills to our advantage and their advantage," Sir Roger said.

Nadiia, a Ukrainian who came to the UK via the scheme and is based in Thanet, said: "There is a very strong work ethic within the Ukrainian people, and therefore deep shame when work cannot be found, or where highly skilled workers can only find basic roles."

Nadiia said she "could not judge" those who returned to Ukraine to be with loved ones

Only a third of those with Homes for Ukraine visas in the three counties are still living with sponsors.

They may have moved to private accommodation, another local authority or even gone abroad.

Baljeet Nijjhar said many Ukrainians had experienced "homesickness" after two years of war

Baljeet Nijjhar, from the volunteer group UKrainian Refugee Help, said many Ukrainians were homesick.

"They've got husbands or brothers or elderly parents back home who have not been able to leave," she said.

Ms Nijjhar said accessing private accommodation could prove difficult for Ukrainians, with many letting agencies asking people to prove their annual income before tax was 30 times the monthly rent.

Kent County Council said top-up grants and Levelling Up cash had helped guests move into private accommodation.

"Contingency funding for districts has also reduced pressure on local housing teams and homelessness," a spokesperson added.

A government spokesperson said its priority was to "provide safe and secure haven for those fleeing the ongoing conflict, whilst providing certainty for Ukrainians in the UK on their future as the war continues".

"We have provided an additional £750m through the Local Authority Housing Fund for councils in England to buy or create housing stock to accommodate Ukrainian families at risk of homelessness."

Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex county councils, and Medway and Brighton & Hove councils were also contacted for comment.

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