FRUSTRATIONS remain high for many Dorset families who have offered to host Ukraine refugees fleeing the war zone.

A Dorset Council report says that many are still waiting for Government departments to act over visas and funding.

“There has been some frustration from some members of the public in the length of time it is taking to issue visas and in understanding the scheme which has resulted in some customer complaints to the council,” said a report to councillors.

It says that support is only offered through one of the schemes, Homes for Ukraine, which has also led to complaints from those arriving in the UK through other routes, including the UK Family Scheme, which offers entry visas through the Home Office to immediate and extended family members of British nationals, but not the funding or support to go with it either for the refugees, or the UK-based families.

Other problems highlighed include allowing refugees to leave Ukraine, or other countries they may have fled to, before background checks are made on UK hosts, or their homes being visited by officials to check that they are suitable and safe.

Dorset Council says that although it has been promised Government funding of £10,500 per year for each individual to help with resettlement and other costs it is still waiting guidance on the payment system and the administration of the £350 monthly ‘thank you’ payments to host families under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

In addition it says the authority is still waiting for a  process to inform councils when refugees have arrived.

On the plus side more people have offered a home, despite the difficulties, than are currently matched through official channels: “Many more people have expressed an interest in hosting a Ukrainian refugee and are currently awaiting a response from the Home Office and in some cases are contacting the council to try to seek information but we are unable to respond and this is resulting in some frustration,” said the report to next week’s people and health overview committee.

There is also some uncertainty about how what might happen in the event of a breakdown with host families, given that across Dorset there is little emergency accommodation available. The council says that it hopes that should a breakdown happen they might be able to match the refugees with other potential hosts.

The report also includes a warning about caring for unaccompanied children and young people which it says is running at a shortfall and could, in time, place additional pressure on the Children’s Service budget.

Said the report: “Refugees and people seeking asylum have been through great hardship and settling in a new country is a huge challenge. Many will have faced long and hard journeys and spent time in harsh and overcrowded conditions which may make them more susceptible to infections including Covid-19. Traumatic events and ongoing stressors mean that they are more likely to experience poor mental health.”

The report also warns that the risks of asylum seekers being exploited is ever-present and needs to be guarded against by all its staff and other professionals.