Islanders Offer Homes For Ukrainian Refugees

More than 50 Jersey families have already come forward offering to share their homes with Ukrainian refugees.

It follows an appeal from the government's External Relations department on Tuesday (8 March) for any islanders able to house people having to flee Ukraine following Russia's invasion.

Officials have been working with housing providers and each of the parishes to try and find accommodation for families looking to move to the island.

Last week, Senator Ian Gorst - the External Relations Minister - confirmed Jersey will match the UK's expanded visa scheme, allowing relatives like parents, grandparents, adult children and siblings to be eligible where they previously weren't.

States Members have since agreed to go further and lobby the UK to widen the eligibility criteria further, following a successful proposition from St Saviour Deputy Jess Perchard.

Speaking to Channel 103, Senator Gorst says plans are being worked on:

"I did of course discuss visa provisions in my meeting with UK Ministers at the Home Office earlier this week.

Senator Ian Gorst, Jersey's External Relations Minister

We are grateful for the scope widening that was announced by the Home Secretary last week, but as the States agreed, we feel there should be an even more generous offer.

We discussed that with UK Ministers, but it's something that hasn't yet been developed but the UK is thinking about."

Boris Johnson has teased new plans which will mean people in the UK will be able to welcome Ukrainian refugees into their homes - something Jersey would likely replicate.

Details of the scheme are due to be announced by the UK Government on Monday.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Ukraine

Senator Gorst went on to say that the generous response from islanders to his department's appeal to find accommodation for Ukrainian refugees has been encouraging.

The Minister says he's confident the people of Jersey will welcome the families of Ukrainian islanders 'with open hearts and open arms':

"We've had a very, very generous response from islanders as you would expect.

As of Tuesday morning, we've had 50 families come forward offering accommodation to potential Ukrainian refugees."

Anyone in Jersey able to provide suitable accommodation for families fleeing the conflict in Ukraine is still being asked to email externalrelations@gov.je.