The Government’s recently launched ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme which will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukrainians to safety – including those with no family ties to the UK. We know some colleagues are now expressing interest in housing refugee families from Ukraine.
In our role as a City of Sanctuary Supporting Organisation, our University would like to support Homes for Ukraine, as well as any similar schemes. UEB has therefore taken the decision to extend the University’s Special Leave provision to those employees who wish to host a refugee/refugee family.
What does this mean in practice?
Employees will be able to take up to 4 days of paid leave in any leave year to support the refugee/refugee family they are hosting. This is a permanent provision and will apply to all UK Government refugee schemes.
The purpose of this leave is to offer our employees paid time off to help the refugee(s) they are hosting to settle into their homes. This may include help with registering children at schools, providing documentation support, registering with doctors/dentists, accessing further support from the City Council or assistance with any other aspects of life in the UK.
For further information about the University’s Special Leave provision, please visit the Human Resources webpage here.
