Ukrainians are welcome in Bristol, a City of Sanctuary
BRISTOL WELCOMING UKRAINIAN REFUGEES
As of April 2024, 892 people, in 577 households, have arrived in Bristol through the Homes for Ukraine programme. There are 639 people in 402 households in Bristol, of which 275 people are in accommodation with 205 hosts.
Bristol City Council have joined efforts with Christian Action Bristol, Bristol churches and the Good Faith Partnership to create a network of Welcome Hubs.
A Welcome Hub is a community which:
Supports Ukrainian refugees by providing food, community, and resettlement support through a weekly rhythm of daytime and evening activities in a community space.
Supports refugee hosts in Bristol by complementing their activities and helping them prepare for the hosting role in advance.
Partners with Bristol City Council to provide physical space for them to bring in expert resettlement help for refugees.
Is open to all refugees and hosts, irrespective of ethnicity, gender, or faith.
UKRAINE WELCOME HUBS IN BRISTOL (from Sept 2024)
Please email the hub if you need to find out more information on dates and current activities.
HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH HUB, Hope Chapel Hill, Hotwells, Bristol, BS8 4ND (link opens in Google Maps)
Thursday 5-7pm
Weekly evening hub
Hot meal
Children’s activities (bouncy castle, play materials, arts and crafts)
Occasional day out / one-off events
B&A CHURCH, 279 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8NY (link opens in Google Maps)
Tuesday 6-8pm
Weekly evening hub
Hot meal
Plenty of space for children to play
Occasional coffee + walk in the city meetups
Occasional day out/ one-off events
HOLY TRINITY STAPLETON HUB, Parish Hall, Stapleton, Bristol, BS16 1AZ (link opens in Google Maps)
Please note: the church hall is not attached to the church, it’s at 23 Park Road, 200 yards up the road from the church.
Monthly meetings for an evening meal, on a Monday, 5 - 7pm – contact the Welcome Hub for details.
Christmas party, occasional day trips, activities and excursions
CHRIST CHURCH CLIFTON, Clifton Down Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3BN (link opens in Google Maps)
Drop-in Friday 9am – 11am. Coffee, pastries, chat.
REDLAND CHURCH HUB, Redland Green Rd, Redland, Bristol, BS6 7ER (link opens in Google Maps)
Occasional social events
Trips and excursions throughout the year
Community events
VICTORIA PARK BAPTIST & WOODIES SOUTHSIDE CHURCH HUB, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 5DA (link opens in Google Maps)
Monthly meal and games, childrens’ activities; a community event
Saturday evening, monthly 6 - 8pm
Up to 50 Ukrainian guests
Occasional seasonal parties, activities
ENGLISH LESSONS
BRISTOL CATHEDRAL HUB, City Centre, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TJ (link opens in Google Maps)
Weekly English classes for beginners and above, taught by qualified teachers and helped by volunteers.
Support, advice and community
Occasional trips, meals and excursions for class members
WESTBURY-ON-TRYM HUB, Westbury Methodist Church, Westbury Hill, Westbury-on-Trym, BS9 3AA (link opens in Google Maps)
Weekly English classes for beginners
1:1 conversation classes
Ukrainian Saturday School, run by Ukrainians, is hosted by Westbury hub
VINEYARD HUB, The Harbour Totterdown (Formerly Totterdown Methodist) Bushy Park BS4 2EG (link opens in Google Maps)
Friday mornings 10 -11.30am
Free English Lessons, childcare available but please let us know in advance if bringing children
A friendly welcoming and supportive group with refreshments and signposting for further support if needed. Occasional day trips
IF YOU ARE A HOST
If you are a host, the Bristol City Council Refugee Resettlement Team will inform you of your local Hub and its activities. They can be contacted at homesforukraine@bristol.gov.uk. You can also contact your local Hub directly (see emails above).
Here are some resources to help with your journey.
REFUGEE WELCOME HOMES (funded by Bristol City Council) offers one-to-one guidance and support for hosts on all aspects of hosting including intercultural communication, managing conflict and how to support your guest into move-on accommodation. You can contact them on their website: https://www.refugeewelcomehomes.net
ESOL (English) LESSONS are provided at Welcome Hubs (email the Hubs using the email addresses above for the latest lesson times) and other English lessons across Bristol can be found at https://leb.community/
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT is available through the Council’s One Front Door website which uses a triage form to signpost refugees to the most appropriate support service for them. Refugees can self-refer or you can refer them using the form at https://onefrontdoor.org.uk/
COUNTRY NAVIGATOR is a website to help sponsors increase their cultural awareness and includes videos from Dan Green of Bridges for Communities in Bristol.
THE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION has a list of resources to help prepare for hosting babies and children. They are also supporting potential sponsors, and assisting the government in the roll-out of the ‘Homes For Ukraine’ scheme.
IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER AT A HUB
If you are linked with a church that has a Welcome Hub, make sure to talk to the designated Hub contact person if you would like to volunteer. There may be a wide range of opportunities to offer help: from talking and building relationships, to helping with practical queries, or bringing food to share at Hub events.
If you are bilingual or can help with translation, we'd love to hear from you. If interested, please email: joseph.davies@goodfaith.org.uk