2.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care to provide further grant funding to three Voluntary Action Groups (“VAs”) to enable them to support Ukrainian refugees to integrate into communities and connect with fellow refugees.
2.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED to
1) agree to a grant payment being made that enables each of the 3 VAs to plan and implement essential refugee support functions for a period of 12-months;
2) agree that the proposed funding to be provided is £490,000 to be distributed across three VAs which between them cover the whole East Sussex area; and
3) delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care to take all steps necessary to implement the scheme.
Reasons
3.3 The VAs can provide a range of support and integration functions to enable Ukrainian refugees to settle into communities across East Sussex. The VAs are prepared to conduct this activity provided appropriate resources and funding is available.
3.4 ESCC has provided some initial funding through a £10,000 grant to provide immediate support. This funding was not sufficient to cover the costs associated with activity resulting from the Homes for Ukraine scheme and therefore does not support the sustainability of the functions within this report nor does it support the longer-term planning of activities set out above.
3.5 The grant payment will enable each VA to plan and implement the essential support functions for a period of 12-months. The VAs will work in collaboration with ESCC officers to agree the criteria, monitoring and evaluation processes for the creation and administration of a support fund.
3.6 The funding will enable these VAs to provide the necessary resources to implement the targeted support and activities that have been identified and will enable them to distribute small grants to local community groups, charities and other organisations who are supporting Ukrainian refugees.