Key to our response is understanding language need and people. Ukrainians will arrive traumatised, escaping from shocking situations. We have experience of supporting people and communities who have arrived at short notice; Sudanese Copts & Muslims (1991), A8 European Succession Countries (2004), Oromo – Gateway Protection Programme (2006), and Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (2016-21). We always respond to the needs of new and emerging communities. We will do our very best for Ukrainian people.
We have been in contact with the Home Office to offer our 24 hour emergency interpreting service, particularly for Gatwick arrivals. The SIS emergency interpreting service can be reached on 0800 999 1950.
We have created a basic web page for Ukrainian Service Users. Here you can find documents translated into Ukrainian (as well as English versions) as well as useful weblinks and local support information. The translated documents include details about the NHS, registering with a GP, a link to accessing interpreting support at appointments, articles about trauma, advice from DWP, etc. This web page is also aimed at providing information which might be useful to local hosts and organisations giving support to Ukrainian arrivals. We will continue adding to this page as we come across or receive further translated documents or links.
A weekly Drop In for Ukrainian Refugees, sponsors and other interested parties is organised by B&H Network for International Women and Support for Ukraine in Brighton and Hove SIS has translated the promotional flier into Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Hungarian and Romanian, sending this out by email and SMS to over 200 people.
We have also translated a support message sent to 100+ Ukrainian and Russian speaking Service Users: we understand this is a very worrying time. We hope you are feeling safe and secure. If you need practical, emotional or social support or help with any language barriers please contact SIS; by phone 01273 234016, email ben@sussexinterpreting.org.uk, or visit our website www.sussexinterpreting.org.uk/service-users/
You can see our other Service User pages with fuller translated materials in 18 languages here: sussexinterpreting.org.uk/service-users/
UK Government have published a useful resource intended to help primary care professionals assess and address the health needs of patients ordinarily resident in Ukraine who have arrived in the UK in response to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Arrivals will usually be under the government visa schemes (Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/arrivals-from-ukraine-advice-for-primary-care/arrivals-from-ukraine-advice-for-primary-care#main-messages
The UK’s Ukraine Language Support Task Force has produced model document translations from Ukrainian into English for key Ukrainian official documents:
- Birth Certificate (in two versions: late Soviet-era and more recent)
- Marriage Certificate
- Divorce Certificate
The Ukrainian model has the language code UK in the file name, and the English model the language code EN. Both the UK and EN models have blank spaces _____ for personal details.
The models can be downloaded and used free of charge from www.charitytranslators.org/LinksforUkraine#Templates.
Free UK immigration advice for people fleeing Ukraine Provided by a group of volunteer legal professionals with immigration and asylum expertise. A free service to connect Ukrainian citizens (and others fleeing Ukraine) with free legal advice on UK immigration, visas and asylum from qualified and regulated lawyers (with thanks to Richard at Sanctuary on Sea)
SIS has long standing partnerships with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, G.P Surgeries and NHS Hospital Trusts across Sussex. We will continue to provide our professional and empathetic Community Interpreting services to support the wellbeing and recovery needs of Ukrainian people, and all other people with language support needs.
Community Interpreting improves access and understanding through professional person centred services. Community Interpreters help people feel safe, heard and understood. Interpreters need excellent language skills, great sensitivity, empathy, and a special quality of being unbiased and removed but at the same time friendly and supportive.
As a charity we provide FREE INTERPRETING to all our Service Users. We understand the importance of recovery focused service delivery which prioritises safety, respect, trust, choice, empowerment, and hope.
We try to case manage sensitive or traumatic sessions and work to provide appropriate continuity of interpreter.
Our understanding at the moment is that Ukrainians coming to the UK are most likely to be joining family who are already resident. People may also be hosted by British families who will be able to help initially with making appointments and using our referral form: sussexinterpreting.org.uk/english/
We are working with BHCC and the Migrant & Refugee Forum to identify any active Ukrainian community groups that we might connect with. At the moment we are aware of only one. There currently seem to be few Ukrainians in Sussex.
Brighton & Hove City Council will be trying to regularly update their useful information page: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/news/2022/supporting-ukrainian-humanitarian-crisis
SIS currently have 1 Ukrainian and 11 Russian speaking linguists based across Sussex.
We are monitoring the level of need and will respond accordingly.
Brighton & Hove Community Sponsorship are a group of volunteers aiming to resettle a refugee family in Brighton and Hove and are seeking additional volunteer, fundraising and accommodation support:
How to Help | Brighton Hove Community Sponsorship (brightonhovecs.com)
Please do let me know if you have any questions.
Arran Evans – SIS Director
arran@sussexinterpreting.org.uk
07765315822
