Britons welcome Ukrainian refugees into their homes

CAROLINE BAUM reports on a charity program that has seen 12,000 British citizens put up their hands to take in Ukrainian families fleeing the Russian invasion and help them make a new start.

When the war in Ukraine began, more than 100,000 Britons promptly signed up to their government's Homes for Ukraine program, of whom 12,000 followed up with Refugees At Home charity. It was a positive demonstration of concern from a country that is increasingly harsh in its immigration policy. But in this instance, the humanitarian principle prevailed - just as it did during World War II, when Kindertransport saved the lives of thousands of unaccompanied children.

That lineage persists: one of Refugees at Home’s Patrons is Lord Dubs, who came to the UK on Kindertransport from the former Czechoslovakia aged six and has been a figurehead of safe passage for unaccompanied minors as a Labour MP and peer.

Hosts are not paid or subsidised in any way. The minimum stay they can offer is six months.

My friend Louise Kaye registered. A former magistrate, Louise is Jewish, and has a strong memory of her own family fleeing pogroms and war in the past two centuries. Her businessman husband David came from a family with similar heritage and a strong tradition of philanthropy. 

Before he died of complications from early onset Parkinsons disease two years ago, David had discussed his desire to host a Syrian refugee in their West London home with Louise. 

Unsurprisingly, they were assessed as suitable. Their large and comfortable home was ideal, with a bright, warm self-contained top floor flat close to shops, a park and public transport. They were used to a regular stream of impoverished music students as tenants.

But, freshly widowed, Louise felt too vulnerable to contemplate having a stranger in her house. She needed more time. Now re-partnered, she was ready to help and contacted Refugees at Home again.