USPUK Charity Newsletter - January 2026
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2026
As we are entering our 4th year as a charity, we’re incredibly proud of everything our community has achieved together through your continued support. Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing updates, reflections, and stories that highlight the impact of our work.
Updated Referral Pages
From 2026, displaced people seeking support from USPUK will be invited to complete a short online sign-up form, helping us better understand and respond to the needs of our communities. If you need support with this, the form can be completed together during a consultation call.
Urgent call for hosts
Our Ukraine Support Team reports that the situation in Ukraine remains incredibly difficult. Ongoing attacks continue to damage critical infrastructure, including homes, energy networks, and essential services. Ukraine is currently experiencing unusually severe winter conditions, with temperatures forecast to drop to around –20°C in February, levels not seen for over a decade, further exacerbating risks for people without safe, insulated housing.
A woman was killed at a confectionery factory in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv as a result of a Russian attack on the night of January 24. — Ukrinform.
We are continuing our matching project to link Ukrainian guests and UK hosts thanks to the generous support of the Sigrid Rausing Trust this year. If you are able to offer a safe room to a single person or a mother with a child, please contact us at sponsors@uspuk.org or click the link below to find out more and book a call with our sponsor coordinator.
Afghan Support Update
As for the Afghan Support Team, they expect an important year ahead. From this summer, thousands of Afghans in the UK will become eligible to apply for citizenship.
In response, we are focusing our efforts on providing clear, practical support to help individuals and families prepare for the Life in the UK Test, the English language requirement, and every stage of the citizenship journey. Many of our service users, particularly those who arrived through the evacuation schemes, face barriers due to low digital literacy. That is why we are committed to offering tailored guidance and accessible resources to ensure no one is left behind.
Please contact us if you need guidance on this matter, and we will add you to our waiting list to share first-hand information once we begin supporting people with the citizenship application process.
🗺️ Ukraine Policy Network Launched
While many Afghan communities we support are now progressing towards long-term settlement and citizenship, Ukrainians in the UK remain in a position of ongoing uncertainty due to temporary visa arrangements. In response, USPUK has joined the Ukraine Policy Network, coordinated by the University of Birmingham, which has formally submitted written evidence to the UK Parliament on the long-term consequences of temporary Ukraine Scheme visas. The submission, now accepted as part of the official parliamentary evidence base, documents the real and systemic impacts of temporary status on Ukrainians’ lives in the UK — including barriers to stable employment and education, housing insecurity, mental health strain, and obstacles to long-term integration.
We have been grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this statement, informed directly by the communities we engage with.
It calls for a broader understanding of “contribution” beyond income alone, a clear pathway to settlement for those already living in the UK, and targeted protections for vulnerable groups. The evidence is currently under review and may inform future government recommendations on migration and settlement policy.
Thank you for standing with displaced families and following our updates.
Wishing you a great start to your year,
USPUK Team - Registered Charity (1198784)
Stay tuned for updates, stories, and ways you can get involved.
Together, we can make a significant impact and support those who need it most.
All our services are free of charge, and we welcome donations to help us continue our work.