USPUK Funding Update – National Lottery Awards for All

We’re pleased to share that The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded USPUK a £20,000 Awards for All England grant to strengthen our frontline support for displaced Ukrainians and Afghans rebuilding their lives in the UK.

This funding will allow us to expand practical, employment-focused and integration support for Ukrainian and Afghan newcomers, particularly those facing language barriers, limited access to information, and challenges navigating housing, work, and local services.

What the funding will support

• Navigating understanding of resettlement pathways: we provide early advice on which safe schemes and routes are available for displaced people to find safety in the UK and how to navigate them.

• Bringing people together: refugee-led consultants run mixed drop-in sessions and peer circles that knit newcomers into local neighbourhoods and existing networks.

• Helping people reach potential: we aim for each participant to have a personal action plan, necessary registrations, and sharing job opportunities

• Cost-of-living response: swift benefit guidance, emergency hardship referrals and employer introductions shorten the period of income insecurity that so many families face on arrival.

Like much of our work, funding will help us focus on practical outcomes, helping people move from crisis and uncertainty toward stable employment, independence, and belonging.

Why this matters

Many of the families we support arrive after displacement, trauma, or prolonged visa uncertainty. Language gaps and unfamiliar systems often delay employment and slow integration. Early, targeted support can make the difference between long-term dependency and sustainable independence. Thanks to this award, we can reach more people earlier and provide structured, consistent help at the moment it’s most needed.

We’re grateful to The National Lottery and its players for making this possible.

Our project was made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players.