COSLA’s Evolving Response to the Situation in Ukraine
Since the start of Russia’s illegal war in 2022, COSLA has been at the heart of delivering the Ukraine visa schemes in Scotland in partnership with Local Authorities, the Scottish Government, the UK Government and the voluntary sector. COSLA’s work includes the following (non-exhaustive):
- Flagging and escalating issues to UK Government on behalf of local authorities in relation to the introduction of the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme.
- Participation in all levels of the Warm Scottish Welcome Governance structures, to ensure the interests of local authorities are represented in Scottish Government policymaking around the Scottish Super Sponsor Scheme.
- Supporting local authorities navigate a rapidly changing policy climate via regular meetings, ad hoc advice and developing pan-LA responses to consultations
- Working with the Scottish Government to ensure digital solutions meet the needs of local authorities.
- Sharing of best practice with SMP leads across the UK, including the Welsh Strategic Migration Partnership (WSMP) who also have a super sponsor scheme.
- COSLA’s Community Wellbeing Spokesperson co-chairs the Ukraine Stakeholder Reference group, which amplifies the voices of people with lived experience to influence policymaking.
- Lobbying Scottish and UK Governments to ensure local authorities are appropriately funded for the vital work of their resettlement teams.
Timeline
- On 14 March 2022, in response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the UK Government launched its Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine), which relies on individuals in the UK acting as a sponsor and matching with people displaced from Ukraine.
- On 18th March 2022, Scottish Government launched the Scottish Super Sponsor Scheme for displaced people as part of its Warm Scots Welcome programme. The Super Sponsor Scheme removed the need for applicants to be matched prior to being given permission to travel to the UK with the Scottish Government acting as a ‘super sponsor’. To meet immediate accommodation needs under the Super Sponsor Scheme, Welcome Accommodation was established across Scotland.
- On 13 July 2022, Scottish Government temporarily paused the Super Sponsor Scheme. The decision to pause the scheme was to ensure support could continue after a large increase of new applications.
- On 1 November 2022 a review of the Super Sponsor Scheme was launched with 16 key interventions including on guest communication, better matching and assistance with housing. This also included new governance structures.
- January 2024 saw the introduction of move-on and re-entry policies, aimed at reducing the number of guests dependent on Welcome Accommodation (mostly hotels). Guests were given two reasonable offers of longer-term accommodation, one of which must be full tenancy (now reduced to one offer). Guests are currently also only permitted re-entry to Welcome Accommodation in exceptional circumstances, e.g. safeguarding concerns or family reunification. The Reducing Reliance on Welcome Accommodation (RRWA) programme has been highly successful in achieving more suitable longer-term housing arrangements for Ukrainians, with numbers of guests in Welcome Accommodation substantially reduced from the peak.
- On February 2024 the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme was announced by the UK Government, granting Ukrainians an additional 18 months on their visas. This also limited new applications to the HfU scheme to 18 months. Applications for the UPE opened on 4 February 2025.
Immigration Advice:
There has been a significant increase in Ukrainians in Scotland exploring visa routes outside of the time-limited Ukraine Schemes and UPE in order to achieve a more permanent status in the UK. As this is a regulated area, local authority colleagues may not be able to assist you beyond technical support completing application forms. Please find below a list of providers of IAA (Immigration Advice Authority) regulated immigration advice who may be able to assist:
- Scottish Refugee Council’s Helpline provides initial support and can refer guests to immigration lawyers – 0808 1967 274
- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has some capacity to take referrals from local authorities and third sector organisations for Level 2 IAA Advice. However please note individuals cannot refer themselves, please contact your local authority or other support organisation who may be able to refer you.
- The charity Settled also takes referrals for Level 2 IAA advice – ukraineadvice@settled.org.uk.
- Scotland’s Migration Service may be able to provide some basic immigration advice e.g., for guests exploring the Skilled Worker route https://www.scotland.org/move-to-scotland/migration-service
- Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has some capacity to provide Level 1 IAA Advice – https://www.glasgowcentralcab.org.uk/services/immigration
- Additional immigration advisors can be found with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) which regulates immigration advice and services under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 – https://portal.immigrationadviceauthority.gov.uk/s/adviser-finder# Alternatively, a private solicitor specialising in immigration, can be found through Law Society Scotland – https://www.lawscot.org.uk/find-a-solicitor/
Useful guidance:
- Applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme – gov.uk
- Homes for Ukraine: Ukraine Permission Extension scheme – guidance for guests – gov.uk
- Homes for Ukraine: Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme – guidance for councils – gov.uk
- Super Sponsor Scheme and Homes for Ukraine: guidance for local authorities – gov.scot
- People arriving from Ukraine – risk and need: public protection guidance – gov.scot
- Super Sponsor Scheme and Homes for Ukraine: guidance for hosts – gov.scot
- Scotland for Ukrainians: a guide for displaced people – gov.scot