Support for young people arriving from Ukraine

Welcome to our Work Wiltshire page which has information on support to help you with education, employment or training in Wiltshire.

Support for young people arriving from Ukraine

Education in the UK for young people from age 16 to 18

The UK school term is from September – July when there is a Summer break. In Years 10 and 11 (age 14 to 16) students prepare to take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams at the end of two years.

After completing GCSEs in Year 11, all young people in the UK are required to stay in education, employment or training until they are 18.

Refugee Education UK has provided an Education Pack.

Guests living in the UK under Ukraine Family Scheme, or the Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukraine are eligible to enrol as a student, although colleges (but not state-funded schools) may ask to see evidence of eligibility.

The Education Hub is a site for parents, pupils and education professionals on the education system.

How do families arriving from Ukraine apply to a school place and childcare? / Як родинам, що приїжджають з України, подавати заяви на отримання місць у школі та допомоги з оплати послуг з догляду за дитиною? – The Education Hub (blog.gov.uk)

When a young person finishes their Year 11 and gets their GCSE results they can make choices for their post 16 education or training. This can be:

  • A Levels at a ‘sixth form’ in a school
  • Other qualifications at a further education (FE) college
  • An apprenticeship or work with training included

Careerpilot has useful information on options at 16 – Careerpilot : Get information : Your choices at 16 Education – Ukrainian Refugee Help is another helpful resource.

The courses offered at sixth form and colleges vary. Information and application forms can be found on the websites of each college, sixth form or by telephoning the institution. Young people should apply to colleges / sixth forms that are close to where they live when possible. Below are the two colleges and one sixth form college within Wiltshire:

Wiltshire college & University Centre

Sarum college

Salisbury 6th Form College

Wiltshire has 21 schools with sixth forms which are listed below, some post 16 courses have flexible start dates. However, many start in September. It may not be possible to join a course mid-way through the academic year. Students from Ukraine should discuss course start dates with the colleges or sixth forms when they apply.

Find information on Further Education courses and funding here.

Find information on Further Education courses and qualifications for 14–19-year-olds here.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship combines hands-on work with the opportunity to train and obtain qualifications.  Apprenticeships, which must last for a minimum of 12 months are open to anyone aged 16 and over who is not in full-time education, there is no upper age limit!

Visit our apprenticeship page for more information.

Additional information on Apprenticeships can be found on the UCAS website and the Amazing Apprenticeships websites

People are encouraged to find and apply for apprentices using the Find and Apprenticeship Service

If you need to use public transport to travel for post 16 education you can apply for a travel pass from Wiltshire Council. In Wiltshire, transport can be applied for via the council’s post-16 transport scheme. A charge is applicable for this scheme with a significant discount for students from low-income households.

For more information please go to the website – Applying for transport – Wiltshire Council

You can also contact the passenger transport team on 0300 4560100.

Courses are available for 19+ who have English as a second language. Learners will improve their general knowledge of the English Language and work on improving their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

These courses have been designed to help learners, whose mother tongue is not English, to settle into the life in the UK. Learners will be taught a variety of topics in accordance with their individual learning journeys. The aim is to teach learners how to communicate effectively in English covering all three elements  (speaking and listening, reading and writing). The courses are delivered at a higher and a beginner’s level.

By the end of these courses, learners will be able to (at the appropriate level):

  • Show an understanding of simple words and phrases used in everyday conversational and familiar contexts
  • Ask simple questions and respond appropriately
  • Understand face to face speech/words in spoken British English
  • Write simple sentences using learned vocabulary
  • Recognise and find important information in life-skill materials related to their need
  • Use appropriate body language to clarify and complement their spoken language

To book a place on the courses please email – familyandcommunitylearning@wiltshire.gov.uk or call 01225 770478

If you are unable to attend the induction please ensure you contact us. 

If courses are not currently being run in your local area please contact us on the above to be put on a waiting list, we will let you know when courses are available. There is a maximum of 15 people per course.

Please click here to download, courses are listed in the prospectus. 

The Department of Education are extending access to (HE) student support, home fee status, tuition fee caps, Advanced learner loans and FE19+ funding for those who are granted leave under one of the three schemes for Ukrainians introduced recently by the Home Office. This ensures those who have been affected by the war in Ukraine can access support on the same basis as those within other protection-based categories (such as refugees).

Student Action for Refugees (STAR) have compiled a list of over 70 universities that offer scholarships, bursaries and fee waivers for people who have claimed asylum in the UK. You will need to contact the university that you are applying to check you are eligible and if your application will be considered.
 
Refugee Education UK facilitates a number of scholarships.
 

Further Education

Refugee Education UK have very useful information and flow chart on their website –

Refugee Education UK | Advice for College | Resource 05 | (reuk.org)

You can also contact you local Community Engagement Manager who will be able to advise you on community support available locally. Find your local Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager  or Councillor – Wiltshire Council

Bradford on Avon

3.30pm to 5pm Monday at The Hub @ BA15 Church Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LS

Email: boacommunityhub@gmail.com

Chippenham Hub

Ukraine friendship group – Every Wednesday, 10 – Noon.

23 Borough Parade, Chippenham SN15 3WL

https://www.chippenhamhub.com

Email: chippenhamcommunityecohub@gmail.com

Tel: 01249 736425

Devizes

St James Church Centre, Devizes, SN10 1LR

Email: sjc@stjamesdevizes.org

Durrington

11am to 1pm Monday at Durrington Community Church

Email:- durringtoncommunitychurch@outlook.com

Melksham Social Group

Meeting every Saturday, 10.30am to 12pm, at ‘that meeting space’ in the Market Place – formerly the ArtHouse Café. 

Ukrainians and their host families can get together over a hot drink and socialise with other families. The group has been set up by GoodNews Church.

For more information about the  local support group, visit www.ukraineuk.info; and join the ‘Ukraine support group – Melksham/Corsham/Lacock & Chippenham’ Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/473302704525249 or call 07389 866714.

Salisbury Community Hub for Ukraine

A chance for host families to meet each other, share information and for Ukrainian families to meet, find out what is happening in Salisbury, get help with forms, travel and language.

Pop in for coffee, cake and chat!

The hub takes place every Friday morning, 10am-12noon:

Salisbury Methodist Church, 26 St Edmund’s Church Street, Salisbury, SP1 1EF

Community Hub phone number – +44 7341141632

Email – ukraine@salisburymethodist.org.uk

Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade

5pm to 7pm Tuesday at Pattern Church, Swindon

Email: tom@patternchurch.org  –

And

Royal Wootten Bassett Library – Friday’s 3:30pm – 5:00pm – join the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/rwbh4u

Marlborough

Ukraine support group

Facebook – www.facebook.com/groups/473302704525249

Equipment (Laptops, tablets or school stationery and clothes)

Wiltshire Digital Drive

Ruksak45218 is a charity that offers a rucksack of essential items, such as bedding, clothing, toiletries, footwear, school stationery, school uniforms, sleeping bags, hot water bottles, reading books, exam revision guides, washing detergents – Ruksak45218 provides these items, for young persons, that are living in Wiltshire and are from 5 to 18 years of age.

Wiltshire libraries offer free computer use and free Wi-Fi

Educational links and information

To support Ukrainian refugees and those children displaced by the conflict, the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) has published the Ukrainian curriculum online school.

Welcome: a guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK. You can download this guide from the .gov website which has a section on Education Services in the UK.

Refugee Education UK supports refugee and asylum seeking children and young people across the UK. They have some useful advice sheets and information on funding.

UK ENIC –  Statement of Comparability – A service to evidence the level of overseas qualifications for employment, study, profession registration or another reason.

Detailed information on education systems worldwide.

A collection of useful resources, website and guidance to support Ukrainian students starting school in the UK –

Information on how to keep young people safe in community settings and out of school clubs

English with Ukrainians is a free resource. Ukrainian translators still in the Ukraine translate lessons and discuss linguistic/cultural differences. There are also activities that are suitable for host families to do with Ukrainian guests.

  • Open University

Free online courses for refugees – OpenLearn – Open University

  • Oak National Academy has auto-translated all of its courses into Ukrainian so children and young people can access learning in their language.

Oak National Academy (thenational.academy)

  • Badger Learning – is publishing six eBooks in a dual-language format, with English and Ukrainian text side by side and a glossary of commonly used words at the back. Books are all suitable for children in key stages 2 and 3.

FREE Reading Resources for Ukrainian Pupils (badgerlearning.co.uk)

Family and Community Learning

Family and Community Learning includes a range of online, community based and outreach learning opportunities designed to help people of different ages and backgrounds from the age of 19.

Mental Health
Barnardo's - Ukrainian Support Helpline

Barnardo’s have setup the Ukrainian Support Helpline to provide a holistic support service to anyone fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

Help for anyone fleeing the Ukrainian conflict | Barnardo’s (barnardos.org.uk)

British Red Cross - Help for Ukrainian nationals

Information and support for people from Ukraine, including the family migration visa and the Ukrainian family scheme.

Help for Ukrainian nationals in the UK (redcross.org.uk)

Family and Community Learning

Family and Community Learning offer free courses to anyone aged 19+ (depending on eligibility) on a range of online, community based and outreach learning opportunities designed to help people of different ages and backgrounds to develop new skills. Courses can lead to qualifications, employability skills, jobs and volunteering.

Family and Community Learning – Work Wiltshire

Support from the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP)

Guide from the DWP with information on how to get your NI numbers, benefits, allowances, Job centres and lots more.

thumbnail of DWP support for Ukrainians arriving in the UK

Wiltshire Council

Important information on health, schools and money and how Wiltshire Council will support anyone arriving from Ukraine.

The Bell Foundation

Useful resources for schools welcoming newly arrived learners who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL).

Welcoming Refugee and Asylum Seeking Learners – The Bell Foundation (bell-foundation.org.uk)

Free ESOL Courses

A website with free digital resources – https://www.esolcourses.com/

GOV Information

Guidance – learn to speak, read and write English. Gov links and information on this page.

Find a job: Homes for Ukraine
STEP Ukraine

English language and Employment programme – STEP Ukraine | World Jewish Relief

Students who are here without parental support could be eligible for Universal Credit to support themselves. See Gov website  to find out if you’re eligible you can claim Universal Credit if you’re 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A level or equivalent and do not have parental support. You can see also UK Benefits System for details on how to check what they are entitled to and how to apply.

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