A Safe Home in Stafford
When news of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine broke in 2022, my wife and I felt we couldn’t just stand by.
We wanted to live out our Christian faith in a practical way and use what we had to help. With a spare bedroom sitting empty, we redecorated, passed all the required checks, and opened our home to someone in need.
In Julia’s own words:
I am a mother of a little boy, just under three years old. When I first applied to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, I was on maternity leave. My workplace had already closed down because of the war, and my husband had been mobilised. For the first months of the full-scale invasion, we stayed in Ukraine. As long as my husband was with us, it was easier to believe in a calmer future. But once he left, I suddenly found myself without support.
My son had only just begun going to nursery, but the constant sirens, explosions, and trips to shelters soon became too much for him. His panic attacks and tears grew more frequent, just as the shelling around Kyiv increased. As a mother, I desperately wanted to protect him.
By profession I am a lawyer, with more than ten years of experience, but I am not afraid to change careers if it means giving my son a safer future. So I submitted our application under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. That is when I was contacted by Nadiia, a consultant from USPUK. I am deeply grateful for everything she did to help us prepare for our move.
When our visas finally came through and we were ready to leave, life handed me an unexpected surprise, I discovered that I was pregnant. It was a shock for us all. I told our sponsors right away, not wishing to pressure them, but asking if they would still be willing to host us. These were very different circumstances, after all. Their response moved me to tears, they supported us wholeheartedly and opened their home to us, despite already raising three young children of their own.
Today, my son and I live in Stafford with our wonderful host family. Their kindness and warmth have given us not just shelter but comfort, friendship, and the support we so badly needed. They have welcomed both of us and my unborn baby into their family, and for that I will always be thankful.
If you'd like to help more families like this one, please consider supporting us at uspuk.org/donate
You can make a difference
At USPUK, we support not only Ukrainian families on their journey to the UK but also the generous hosts who open their homes to them. From the moment they register on our website throughout their hosting experience, we are here to help.
If you’d like to help someone on their journey to a new beginning, consider becoming a host today. Visit our Become a Host page to learn more.