Invasion of Ukraine | BASW Information Hub

• On 20 March 2023, BASW wrote to Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State, to highlight ongoing improvements needed for the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. On 2 May, we received a response from the Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan MP.
• In January 2023, BASW published "UK Social Work & the War in Ukraine." to support, inform and empower social workers across the UK in their ongoing practice in relation to the Ukraine visa schemes.
• On 6 April 2022 BASW wrote to Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State, expressing our concerns with the delays, safeguarding, and the support available in the UK for Ukrainian refugees. 
• Following our statement on 23rd March 2022, BASW asked Alex Cunningham MP to lodge a follow up question in the UK Parliament on further details of safeguarding checks for those who have offered their homes to refugees. Read the full response.
• On 11 March 2022, BASW wrote to the Home Office urging the UK Government to scale up its response to the crisis.   
• In November 2023, the Ukraine group supported BASW England’s conference on Social Work in Disasters, which included a session on the response to the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine: Where Next?

• BASW reflects on the third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia (February 2025)
• Two years since Russian invasion of Ukraine (February 2024)
• BASW's Ukraine Leadership Update (July 2023)
• BASW Statement on the Illegal Migration Act (July 2023)
• On the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, BASW Chief Executive, Dr Ruth Allen reflects on the devastation caused by the war and considers the UK's response to the crisis and its approach to other humanitarian disasters across the world.
• BASW’s opposition to ‘outsourcing’ asylum seekers to Rwanda and Ukraine refugee crisis update (June 2022)
• Invasion of Ukraine – BASW statement update (23 March 2022)

• Let's Talk Social Work- podcast episode with Dr Rory Truell, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Social Workers to explore social work’s response to the crisis in Ukraine.
• Information for Ukrainian refugees.  Coming to the UK: Information for Ukrainian refugees (16 March 2022)
• Download resource for social workers:  Responding to humanitarian crisis – the role of social workers during disasters. (BASW England)
• Call for social work voices on Ukraine.  PSW magazine and BASW provide platform to hear from social workers and people they support affected by the tragedy
• BASW member and international social work podcaster David Niven has created ‘Voices from Ukraine’ podcasts which can be downloaded from his website 

• Statement by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW): MILITARY AGGRESSION IN UKRAINE
• The IFSW has put a call out for funds to support volunteer social work efforts in in the main refugee countries (where there may be fewer state funded social work services able to respond to need).
• National Association of Social Workers Launched in Ukraine – International Federation of Social Workers (ifsw.org) October 2022
• Social Work in Ukraine: January Update on the Partnership between IFSW and the Kamianets-Podilskyi District – International Federation of Social Workers January 2023
• Report on one year of partnership and shared efforts strengthening the field of social work in Ukraine and foster resilience during the most challenging times of war – International Federation of Social Workers (ifsw.org) September 2023
• The Voices of Social Work Practitioners in Ukraine – International Federation of Social Workers (ifsw.org) September 2023
• Social Workers’ Day in Ukraine, November 5, 2023 – International Federation of Social Workers 

• Read more:  FSW statements
• Read more:  IFSW share lessons from the frontline of the Ukraine refugee crisis

England 

• Homes for Ukraine: guidance for councils
• The Local Government Association in England has dedicated pages for Ukrainian Refugee issues 

Scotland

• Scottish Government guidance is here
• Scotland Welcoming Ukrainians to the United Kingdom (updated at 2pm on 21 March 2022) – SPICe Spotlight | Solas air SPICe (spice-spotlight.scot)

Both Scotland and Wales have decided upon additional assistance measures and their Governments can be listed as sponsors under the sponsorship scheme.

Wales

• Welsh/Cymru Government guidance for everyone is here
• New Welcome Ticket schemes to help refugees and people from Ukraine integrate into Wales (8 May 22)
• See also guidance for local authorities in Wales  
• Wales A “Team Wales” welcome for Ukraine people | GOV.WALES

Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland government guidance for everyone is here 

• Continue to welcome Ukrainians into your communities
• Use the response to Ukraine as a way of talking to your neighbours and communities about the potential for a positive and life-changing policy towards people fleeing conflict and disasters
• Support BASW in our work to lobby Government for ongoing support for Ukrainians in the UK
• Support BASW in its work to challenge inhumane immigration and asylum policies 
• Consider volunteering for organisations that support refugees and migrants in your area or support them through donations or raising awareness
• Support your local authority in its work to safeguard and provide essential services for Ukrainians and other people fleeing conflict

Use our guidance for social workers (below) to inform your response.