Orbit has allocated 26 of its properties, which come from its Independent Living, Supported Living and Extra Care housing stock, to Ukrainian refugees
All Ukrainian refugees moving into these homes will receive additional support for mental health and accessing interpreter services, through Orbit’s Better Days programme.
As well as offering homes to Ukrainian refugees, Orbit is working with partners to secure furniture, white goods, and set up bank accounts.
Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme
Orbit colleagues who takes part in the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme will be granted an additional week of annual leave to help the refugees to settle into their home. They and the refugees will receive retail vouchers to purchase essential home items.
Orbit will also match fund colleagues’ donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, up to a total of £10,000.
Paul Richards, group director of Customer and Communities, said: “Orbit was created to address a key problem around homelessness, to provide homes to those with the greatest need.
“The war in Ukraine has already seen millions of people displaced, afraid, moved a long way from their home and in urgent need of a temporary home and a welcoming society. We want to do what we can to help provide that.”
John Wrighthouse, Orbit Group people director, added: “It is great that as a business we are able to offer this assistance but we know that many of our colleagues want to help personally too, and we want to support them in doing this.
“By providing additional time off and financial assistance for those looking to share their homes, to match funding colleagues’ donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, it’s my sincere hope that we’ll be able to make a difference to as many families as possible through what is, undoubtedly, the most difficult time in their life.”
