Real stories, real impact

Swindon has welcomed more than 500 Ukrainians since 2022 through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The truth is simple: none of it works without local people opening their doors. In the first year we had far more hosts than we needed. Now that number has dropped to less than half. The need has not.

This page brings together a series of case-study films, all showing what hosting actually looks like for ordinary people in Swindon.

let’s hear Natalya’s story…

What hosting really involves

Hosting is a structured government scheme with clear expectations and a predictable pathway.

Here is what hosting usually means in practice:

• Offering a spare room or self-contained space for a minimum period. Six months is the standard starting point, but many hosts extend if both sides want to.
• Allowing your guests to live as independently as possible. They buy their own food, manage their own budgets and access their own services.
• Helping them navigate the basics of life in the UK, things that are second nature to us but completely foreign when you first arrive, such as GP registration, transport, school places, bank accounts and work.
• Treating them as temporary members of your household while they rebuild their lives.
• Receiving the monthly “thank you payment” provided by government, which helps offset costs. In Swindon this is £350 a month.
• Being supported by Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, local volunteers and council teams who help with translation, welfare checks, benefits guidance and community integration.

The support structure exists, and you are not expected to handle anything alone.

Let’s hear Anastasiia’s story…

Why hosts matter now

Ukrainians arriving today face the same dangers, disruptions and losses as those who came in 2022. The difference is that public attention has shifted, and assumptions have changed. People imagine the crisis is “settled”. It is not.

When local host numbers fall, families in Ukraine are stuck in limbo. Some stay in unsafe situations. Some cannot escape at all because no match is available.

One spare room in Swindon can change that.

Let’s hear Maryna’s story…

If you’re considering hosting

We do not expect you to make a decision today. If you are simply curious, unsure, or want to understand what is involved before going any further, then you can talk to one of the team.

Use the form below to contact our team.

We will talk you through what hosting means, what support you would receive and whether it is the right fit for your household. No pressure, no commitment, just a conversation.