Community Action is working in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council to provide the best service to you and your guests. When you have registered, your information will be shared with us and we will be in touch with you by phone or email. However, you are extremely welcome to contact us at any time for an informal chat.

There are a few checks which must be completed to enable you to start hosting. These should ideally be done before your guests arrive.

• DBS Checks – You and anyone living in your household over the age of 16 will need to complete DBS checks 

• Safeguarding Checks – Community Action will be in touch with you to arrange a visit to your home, where we will validate your documents for the DBS checks. We will also have a chat about what to expect when you start hosting. You will also have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have regarding the hosting process 
• Property Inspection – The Isle of Wight Council will arrange for a home safety check on your property and advise on actions which need to be taken in order to pass the checks, such as smoke alarms and window locks

If your guest is new to the Island, it’s important that you let us know the date they are arriving, as Community Action will need visit your guest as soon as possible after they arrive to carry out the necessary paperwork. To find out more about how we support your guest, see the ‘Support for Ukrainians’ section.

Working in partnership with the ferry companies we can arrange for free car ferry travel for you to collect your guest from the mainland. Let us know if you need this. (Only applies to new arrivals, travelling to the Island within 48 hours of arrival into the UK).

If your guest is already living on the Island and is rematching, all parties will be working on a date of moving to suit everyone. Community Action will help with the move for both host and guest to ensure a smooth move.

We are here to provide ongoing support for any concerns or issues around hosting, by phone, email or a meeting with you in your home or somewhere else. We have an open-door policy in our office, so do feel free to come in to The Riverside Centre to see us for any reason, even if just to say hello! Do check ahead first just in case we are out and about.

As a part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the Government will pay you £350, with a local top up of £150 per month, from the date of arrival at your home, currently to 31 March 2026. There only one payment per month, regardless of the number of people or the number of properties you are hosting. Payments will be made monthly in arrears by the Isle of Wight Council. On our home visit we will ask you to complete a form with your bank details and sign a declaration that you are eligible for the payments.

Your council tax payments or discounts will not increase when you start hosting but you do need to inform the Isle of Wight Council Tax Department of the date your guest moves in, and also moves out.

If your guest moves out permanently your ‘thank you’ payment will cease. It is important that you tell us as soon as possible if they move out to avoid having to repay any overpayment. 

If your guest is absent temporarily for 28 days or more, or they are regularly away from home you must let us know. Your payments will be paused for this period and reinstated when you let us know the guest has returned.

By becoming a host, you are committing to a minimum of 6 months. If you need to end your hosting, please get in touch and we will discuss the options available. Ideally, we would ask that you give your guest and Community Action at least 2 months’ notice so that we can make the necessary arrangements. Email ukraine@actioniw.org.uk or phone 01983 539374 

If you decide to withdraw your sponsorship and your guest has not yet arrived, please tell us as soon as possible.

There are several social events each year to which you are invited. Please see the ‘Support for Ukrainians’ section for more details.