A ROTARIAN from Taunton who is trying to welcome Ukrainians fleeing the war under a government’s scheme that is “like Tinder for refugees” is calling for simpler procedures.

The woman said the Homes for Ukraine scheme may not be easy to use for those who are not familiar with IT and do not speak English.

She is also calling for a government matching scheme to be put in place, so it can be easier for those who want to welcome refugees to find them and get in contact with them.

She said the current system is a "DIY process sadly akin to a dating site".

The woman is trying to help four people - a mum, 39, with her two daughters, a 16-year-old and a six-year-old, and a seven-year-old son.
They are currently in Calais to get photos and have their fingerprints taken.

Despite the difficulties, however, the woman said: “Don't let the system be a barrier, don't be put off applying, just make sure you gather up as much info as possible and have the refugee(s) at the other end of the phone and set aside a good couple of hours to do it.

She said: “The scheme is not easy for those who are not IT savvy or English-speaking.

“Photos [of the documents] need to be converted to PDF format as JPEG not recognised.

“I appreciate the scheme has been put in place quite swiftly but there are still complications.

“You need the Ukrainians at the other end to use Google Translate. I have to say my blood was boiling by the time I got at the end of the form.

“They have to be IT literate, it’s not as simple as the government said it was going to be.

“We have refugees who are scared, lonely, lost. It’s the basic things that need to be changed.

“There are matching sites, these are the ones that are run by volunteers, both English and Ukrainian, and the moderators and admins - caring members of the public - are doing a terrific job voluntarily. 

"It’s currently a DIY process - you need to find who you are going to sponsor, sadly akin to a dating site. It's like Tinder for refugees.

“It's a government-backed matching scheme that is lacking - though I appreciate the speed with which they are having to work.

“I respect that this has been put in place very quickly but needs to be improved.

“Whether it was in Calais or Belgium, or Germany, I hoped there was more help for refugees I only know the story of one family but this is showing many other refugees are locked and don’t know where to go and I can understand the desperation.

“They still need a Visa, if they have an international passport they are being allowed over but not all of them are wealthy and middle-class.

“They have a domestic passport system, which is not international, and it’s not accepted by the system. I would have thought that a domestic passport or a birth certificate would be enough.

“I respect that the government wants to check who comes in the country, but what about all the others?”

A government spokesperson said: “We are moving as quickly as possible to ensure that that fleeing horrific persecution in Ukraine can find safety in the UK, and our Homes for Ukraine scheme now allows those without family connections to come here.

“The Home Office has acted to streamline the visa application process so valid passport holders no longer have to attend in-person appointments before arriving, allowing us to welcome people faster.

“Further changes have been made to simplify the forms to help people through the process as quickly as possible.”

The Rotarian also said people can join the Facebook page Homes for Ukraine - Taunton Hosts, who already have on database details of a dozen local hosts who have already gone through the visa application system and are awaiting news, or Help for Ukraine, Somerset.