Peterborough Cathedral appoints Ukraine Project Coordinator

June 1, 2022

Peterborough & Stamford

Member News

Peterborough Cathedral is delighted to announce the appointment of Victoria Taylor to head up its work in partnership with Peterborough Citizens and Citizens UK.

The project aims to link local hosts with refugees from Ukraine, finding safe and stable places for those driven from their homes by the war.

Victoria brings to this new role a wealth of experience including working with Peterborough City Council and other stakeholders in supporting rough sleepers.

The part-time role is based at the Cathedral, and as well as overseeing the process of finding homes, Victoria will be endeavouring to ensure good support for those arriving in the UK, developing and nurturing strong support networks for families and their hosts.

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough said: “This is a really important project as we look to support our Ukrainian sisters and brothers in their time of need. Victoria brings a range of skills as well as passion to this role and we look forward to working with her. We’re indebted to Jenny and Ewan Harper who are sponsoring this appointment because they feel so strongly that this approach is an essential part of the mission and purpose of the Church. We are fully committed to helping would-be hosts both in Peterborough and in the wider Diocese and playing our part in this extraordinary endeavour.”

Victoria can be contacted via ukraine@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk.

Homes for Ukraine – a call for hosts

Following the successful meeting held at Peterborough Cathedral on 28 April, expressions of interest are now invited from people who would like to host a Ukrainian family through the Citizens UK Communities for Ukraine scheme.

The scheme offers end-to-end advice and practical help around the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme to make it safer, sustainable and supported. The scheme itself has drawn praise from the government and the media. It operates through a number of phases:

Pre-Application phase: Citizens UK’s global partner USPUK supports Ukrainians to understand the opportunity to resettle in the UK
Application phase: USPUK refers Ukrainians to apply through Citizens UK’s ‘Gateway to the UK’ portal
Provisional matching phase: Citizens UK, Peterborough Cathedral and Peterborough Citizens find a likely host sponsor for the Ukrainian applicant
Match confirmation and visa phase: Host sponsor and applicant confirm the match, and apply for a visa supported by the strategic partner, USPUK and Citizens UK
Travel phase: Citizens UK and USPUK help the refugee to book free tickets via Wizz Air from anywhere in Europe.

The process can take between two and six weeks.

Hosts sponsors are supported with a virtual Zoom weekly lunch and learning session. Peterborough Cathedral’s Ukraine Project Coordinator, Victoria Taylor, will work closely with the local Council and other partners to expedite access to key services and support for families arriving in the city.

Anyone who has registered to host, or would like to register to host through the Communities for Ukraine scheme, is invited to get in touch with information about what accommodation they can offer and when it would be available, by emailing ukraine@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk.