Ukraine Independence Day flash mob to visit Centenary Square as more Birmingham hosts sought to help families

Today (Thursday, August 24) is Ukrainian Independence Day and the community in Birmingham are set to celebrate

The Birmingham-based Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network has organised a flash mob and rally to take place in Centenary Square to create a ‘living Tryzub’ - the country’s coat of arms. The event will take place at 5.30pm and is supported by Birmingham City Council with many Ukrainian citizens now living in the city under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Birmingham has been a sister city of Zaporizhzhia since 1973, and like our ‘city of 1,000 trades’ it is also an industrial city. Ukraine’s Independence Day also marks 18 months since the Russian invasion in February 2022 – since when Birmingham has welcomed 935 women and children under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Ukranian families still need help in Birmingham

The existing move-on grant programme for families through the Homes for Ukraine scheme has already helped 93 families move into the private rented sector through grants. However there’s still a need for more local hosts to help accommodate Ukrainian families – for which there is financial support via Government funding.

Recently the city council received £2m via the Government’s Homelessness Prevention Grant to help alleviate the pressures upon services preventing homelessness, of which £500,000 will be used to help sustain our work to support hosts welcoming families from Ukraine and enable them to move onto their own accommodation.

The existing move-on grant programme for families through the Homes for Ukraine scheme has already helped 93 families move into the private rented sector through grants.

In addition the funds will be invested in homelessness prevention. Last month (July 2023) more than half the households presenting at a time when prevention was possible were helped to stay in their own home or secure alternative accommodation.

Housing Solutions and Support will continue to enable approaches including private rented sector access, security for homes where there’s been threats of violence, and mediation between family members. To find out more about how you can help Ukranian people in Birmingham go to: Homes for Ukraine scheme in Birmingham.