- Welcome to Ukraine to UK Forum.
| Location | Date and time |
| Ukraine: | 25-04-2024 14:03 |
| Poland: | 2024-04-25 13.03 |
| England: | 25th April 2024 12:03 |
Ukraine support group - Melksham / Corsham / Lacock & Chippenham
Recent posts
#11
Finding work >> Пошук роботи / Getting to jobs - for Melksham...
Last post by grahame - Jun 03, 2022, 10:09 AMIn their search for jobs, our Melksham guests (from Ukraine) have been asked to research public transport for getting to and from work. Of course, this research is just as applicable to everyone else.
Immediately useful for getting to and from work:
Two major bus routes cross in Melksham - the 271/272/273 from Bath via Melksham to Devizes, and the X34 from Chippenham via Melksham to Trowbridge and Frome. Trains run from Swindon and Chippenham via Melksham to Trowbridge and Westbury, with useful connections onwards.
Buses on routes 271/272/273 in combination run from early morning until late evening on Mondays to Saturdays, and from mid morning to late afternoon on Sundays. Buses on route x34 run from early in the morning until late afternoon on Monday to Saturday only, with no Sunday service. Trains run every day but not late in the evening.
Current timetables for these buses may be found via https://www.faresaver.co.uk/timetable.php (look up the service by number from that page, and click on the .pdf to view)
Current timetables for the trains may be found via https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times (timetables B5 showing connections to the south, and BL showing connections to London)
A day ticket on these buses costs £7.50 and allows as many journeys on the same day as you wish on almost all buses operated by Faresaver. For some journeys, a return ticket for one journey each way may cost a little less. If you are working most days, weekly or monthly passes may be lower cost. You can pay on the bus, in cash or by credit or debit card. You can also get a mobile ticket on your phone. Seniors aged 66 and over and disabled people can obtain an ENCTS card ("Senior bus pass") which lets you use the buses for "free" (really at the expense of the local taxpayer).
A day return ticket on the train to Chippenham costs £5.20, and to Westbury £4.40 (£5.10 if you use the peak train at 06:36 on Monday to Friday). A day return to Swindon costs £11.20, or £8.30 on Saturdays and Sundays, and on trains after the 07:53 on Monday to Friday. Buy your tickets online or from the machine at the station using a card. You can also pay in cash on the train. If you are travelling to work every day using peak trains, you may find it lower cost to buy a "season ticket".
All the buses listed above call at the Market Place, and at other stops as they come into and leave Melksham. If you wish to join them at another stop, hold out your hand to indicate to the driver that you want to join the bus. If you wish to leave a bus at another stop, press one of the buttons on the bus well before your stop, but after the previous stop.
Trains call at Melksham Railway Station which is a 10 minute walk from the Town Bridge away from the town - just walk straight ahead from the Bridge to the top of "Station Approach" where it is signposted from.
Buses do not at present call at or near the station. You cannot use the return half of a train ticket on the bus. You cannot use the return half of a bus ticket on the train.
Next trains: https://tiger.worldline.global/MELKSHM/cisds
Next buses - Market Place (Southbound): https://bustimes.org/stops/4600WIA10816
Next buses - Market Place (Northbound): https://bustimes.org/stops/4600WIA10815
Phone for Faresaver buses: 01249 444444
Phone for National Rail Enquiries: 03457 484950
If you get caught out and need to use a taxi, you could try (in no partiular order)
- P&R Taxis - 07341 949041
- Paul's Taxi - 07986 517319
- Melksham Taxis - 01225 700000
- Nigels Taxi - 07976 165910
- Index - 01225 700800
- Forest Taxis - 01225 705453
- Carols Cabs - 07894 873129
- AAP - 01225 706133
Other ways of getting to work
* Some large employers run their own private transport or have done so in the past and may still do so. An example is Centre Parcs
* There are many jobs in and around Melksham itself - I walked around the Bowerhill Industrial Area last night and out to Hampden Park West, where we have a huge variety of employers and signs are up looking for staff. You too could walk or cycle there
* Even without your own vehicle, car sharing may be possible with colleagues at your new place of work.
* The types of work that would be available to you initially are unlikely to be suitable for working from home, but occasionally that might work.
* More distant jobs may be possible by train with a change along the way - Salisbury, Bristol, Didcot, Reading - though better for the more specialist jobs as the cost of travel may be significant
There are other bus/coach routes which are unlikely to provide you with work journeys:
Routes 68/69 runs from Corsham via Melksham and Bradford-on-Avon to Trowbridge
Town bus routes 14 and 15
Route 401 from Frome via Melksham and Swindon to London
Route x76 from Marlborough via Calne and Melksham to Bath (Royal United Hospital)
Route x69 to Frome via Bradford-on-Avon
Route 555 to Corsham
Immediately useful for getting to and from work:
Two major bus routes cross in Melksham - the 271/272/273 from Bath via Melksham to Devizes, and the X34 from Chippenham via Melksham to Trowbridge and Frome. Trains run from Swindon and Chippenham via Melksham to Trowbridge and Westbury, with useful connections onwards.
Buses on routes 271/272/273 in combination run from early morning until late evening on Mondays to Saturdays, and from mid morning to late afternoon on Sundays. Buses on route x34 run from early in the morning until late afternoon on Monday to Saturday only, with no Sunday service. Trains run every day but not late in the evening.
Current timetables for these buses may be found via https://www.faresaver.co.uk/timetable.php (look up the service by number from that page, and click on the .pdf to view)
Current timetables for the trains may be found via https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/train-times (timetables B5 showing connections to the south, and BL showing connections to London)
A day ticket on these buses costs £7.50 and allows as many journeys on the same day as you wish on almost all buses operated by Faresaver. For some journeys, a return ticket for one journey each way may cost a little less. If you are working most days, weekly or monthly passes may be lower cost. You can pay on the bus, in cash or by credit or debit card. You can also get a mobile ticket on your phone. Seniors aged 66 and over and disabled people can obtain an ENCTS card ("Senior bus pass") which lets you use the buses for "free" (really at the expense of the local taxpayer).
A day return ticket on the train to Chippenham costs £5.20, and to Westbury £4.40 (£5.10 if you use the peak train at 06:36 on Monday to Friday). A day return to Swindon costs £11.20, or £8.30 on Saturdays and Sundays, and on trains after the 07:53 on Monday to Friday. Buy your tickets online or from the machine at the station using a card. You can also pay in cash on the train. If you are travelling to work every day using peak trains, you may find it lower cost to buy a "season ticket".
All the buses listed above call at the Market Place, and at other stops as they come into and leave Melksham. If you wish to join them at another stop, hold out your hand to indicate to the driver that you want to join the bus. If you wish to leave a bus at another stop, press one of the buttons on the bus well before your stop, but after the previous stop.
Trains call at Melksham Railway Station which is a 10 minute walk from the Town Bridge away from the town - just walk straight ahead from the Bridge to the top of "Station Approach" where it is signposted from.
Buses do not at present call at or near the station. You cannot use the return half of a train ticket on the bus. You cannot use the return half of a bus ticket on the train.
Next trains: https://tiger.worldline.global/MELKSHM/cisds
Next buses - Market Place (Southbound): https://bustimes.org/stops/4600WIA10816
Next buses - Market Place (Northbound): https://bustimes.org/stops/4600WIA10815
Phone for Faresaver buses: 01249 444444
Phone for National Rail Enquiries: 03457 484950
If you get caught out and need to use a taxi, you could try (in no partiular order)
- P&R Taxis - 07341 949041
- Paul's Taxi - 07986 517319
- Melksham Taxis - 01225 700000
- Nigels Taxi - 07976 165910
- Index - 01225 700800
- Forest Taxis - 01225 705453
- Carols Cabs - 07894 873129
- AAP - 01225 706133
Other ways of getting to work
* Some large employers run their own private transport or have done so in the past and may still do so. An example is Centre Parcs
* There are many jobs in and around Melksham itself - I walked around the Bowerhill Industrial Area last night and out to Hampden Park West, where we have a huge variety of employers and signs are up looking for staff. You too could walk or cycle there
* Even without your own vehicle, car sharing may be possible with colleagues at your new place of work.
* The types of work that would be available to you initially are unlikely to be suitable for working from home, but occasionally that might work.
* More distant jobs may be possible by train with a change along the way - Salisbury, Bristol, Didcot, Reading - though better for the more specialist jobs as the cost of travel may be significant
There are other bus/coach routes which are unlikely to provide you with work journeys:
Routes 68/69 runs from Corsham via Melksham and Bradford-on-Avon to Trowbridge
Town bus routes 14 and 15
Route 401 from Frome via Melksham and Swindon to London
Route x76 from Marlborough via Calne and Melksham to Bath (Royal United Hospital)
Route x69 to Frome via Bradford-on-Avon
Route 555 to Corsham
#12
First things first >> Насамперед / Re: First things: steps on arr...
Last post by grahame - May 28, 2022, 07:05 AMMonday
- 3 x Job Centre. "Just" proved ID.
- ESOL for 1 (other three job centre clash)
Tuesday
- Picked up forms from Doctor and busy filling in
- Initial account (1) created ready for BRP application then lack of appointments available
Wednesday
- final Job Centre for ID (failed due to wrong passport taken)
- ESOL
Thursday
- Dental checkups for two guests, with translation through "SayHi" and a very helpful (other at practise) Dentist who remembered some Russian from school. Now in the system and I will only flag up things of specific interest.
- Registered with doctor; long forms pre-filled (see Tuesday) gone through and a few corrections added. Again, helpful reception
- Further supermarket shop - product help, etc.
Friday
- Job centre visit for one (replacing Wednesday)
- ESOL
Looking ahead, we have visa extensions and BRP to sort out. We have further job centre visits, with National Insurance Numbers expected via that route in about a week's time; need/request to write CVs this weekend. Ongoing appointemnents on variouse elements which become personal and less that of immediate "early days" relevant. So this log will reduce in frequency as our lives settle.
- 3 x Job Centre. "Just" proved ID.
- ESOL for 1 (other three job centre clash)
Tuesday
- Picked up forms from Doctor and busy filling in
- Initial account (1) created ready for BRP application then lack of appointments available
Wednesday
- final Job Centre for ID (failed due to wrong passport taken)
- ESOL
Thursday
- Dental checkups for two guests, with translation through "SayHi" and a very helpful (other at practise) Dentist who remembered some Russian from school. Now in the system and I will only flag up things of specific interest.
- Registered with doctor; long forms pre-filled (see Tuesday) gone through and a few corrections added. Again, helpful reception
- Further supermarket shop - product help, etc.
Friday
- Job centre visit for one (replacing Wednesday)
- ESOL
Looking ahead, we have visa extensions and BRP to sort out. We have further job centre visits, with National Insurance Numbers expected via that route in about a week's time; need/request to write CVs this weekend. Ongoing appointemnents on variouse elements which become personal and less that of immediate "early days" relevant. So this log will reduce in frequency as our lives settle.
#13
First things first >> Насамперед / Re: First things: steps on arr...
Last post by grahame - May 23, 2022, 08:30 AMContinuing the log ... over the weekend.
Saturday:
* Shopping - Basketball and food
* Laundry
* Cooking
* Mowing
* Bank cards and codes have arrived
* Got rest of cash
Sunday:
* See where the Job Centre in Devizes is for Monday appointments
* Church
* visit to Garden Centre and Caen Hill Locks
A week in, and Monday (posting early in the morning) is ESOL and Job Centre meetings. BRP appointment and doctor remain on the "to do" list, and job centre meetings should help lead towards National Insurance numbers as well as the paths to work or for our younger guests perhaps further education.
Saturday:
* Shopping - Basketball and food
* Laundry
* Cooking
* Mowing
* Bank cards and codes have arrived
* Got rest of cash
Sunday:
* See where the Job Centre in Devizes is for Monday appointments
* Church
* visit to Garden Centre and Caen Hill Locks
A week in, and Monday (posting early in the morning) is ESOL and Job Centre meetings. BRP appointment and doctor remain on the "to do" list, and job centre meetings should help lead towards National Insurance numbers as well as the paths to work or for our younger guests perhaps further education.
#14
Other Areas >> Інші області / London or not - guest requests...
Last post by grahame - May 22, 2022, 04:32 AMI was brought up in London and loved it. I have now lived half a lifetime away in Wiltshire and love that too. Both are good but they are different.
Many potential guests from Ukraine don't know the UK and the regions - they only know of London and ask for "London" on our own group's page too even though we are explicitly Wiltshire. We have a reference page which we can easily direct them to to help them chose if they need help. We remind ourselves that they may well have poor connectivity and not much time to read the whole group ...
An educated guess - 1 in 2 requests overall ask for London. But only 1 in 7 of English population live there. In Wiltshire, 2380 have registered with "Homes for Ukraine" as potential sponsors, of whom only about 20% have matched. It IS hard to connect to the other 80% for our volunteer group and some have dropped out, but we are trying and we know there is capacity here for the right guests. Just that some don't know it - after all if YOU had to flee to Ukraine, before this year would you have known your Kyiv from your Kherson?
Topics ...
http://ukraine2uk.info/15 - London, England, Great Britain - defined
http://ukraine2uk.info/24 - Economy compared - London and regions
http://ukraine2uk.info/58 - United Kingdom, climate
http://ukraine2uk.info/85 - What is it like to live in Wiltshire?
Many potential guests from Ukraine don't know the UK and the regions - they only know of London and ask for "London" on our own group's page too even though we are explicitly Wiltshire. We have a reference page which we can easily direct them to to help them chose if they need help. We remind ourselves that they may well have poor connectivity and not much time to read the whole group ...
An educated guess - 1 in 2 requests overall ask for London. But only 1 in 7 of English population live there. In Wiltshire, 2380 have registered with "Homes for Ukraine" as potential sponsors, of whom only about 20% have matched. It IS hard to connect to the other 80% for our volunteer group and some have dropped out, but we are trying and we know there is capacity here for the right guests. Just that some don't know it - after all if YOU had to flee to Ukraine, before this year would you have known your Kyiv from your Kherson?
Topics ...
http://ukraine2uk.info/15 - London, England, Great Britain - defined
http://ukraine2uk.info/24 - Economy compared - London and regions
http://ukraine2uk.info/58 - United Kingdom, climate
http://ukraine2uk.info/85 - What is it like to live in Wiltshire?
#15
First things first >> Насамперед / Re: First things: steps on arr...
Last post by grahame - May 21, 2022, 06:40 AM7. Friday
a. ESOL class day 3, 12:00 - 14:30
b. Wiltshire Council visited to see how guests were getting on and how we were getting on. Lovely helpful lady, perhaps came across so well because we have only very minor issues which we tend to resolve ourselves. Of immediate note
* She checked our DBS, passports and driving licenses even though we have previously been checked and it was WC themselves who have done the DBS
* She used a council provided translator (Russian because Ukraine ones in short supply at the moment) and with "icky" connections was only just better than out automated apps - indeed we used those in the less formal end of the meeting. I understand that the translator was recorded.
* Translations of important information to us in English was not onward translated to guests
* She asked us if we were prepared to take other people in similar need. When I explained that all our rooms were filled, she said she meant "when they had found their own home" ... I'm not sure, though, whether they will - or their next move would be back to Ukraine with other siblings still there; we said "let's answer that when we come to it - not ruled out"
* She took a look at their rooms. Much giggling - I suspect they may be untidy
* Possibility raised of the younger guests going into education / getting some sort of course as an alternative to or additional to doing some work.
* Guests spoken with in private (as a private group)
* We were given an opportunity to talk in private but declined, confirming we were happy and it was unnecessary
* Informal "next steps" chat - "case worker" assignment (Job Centre), Doctor, BRP are on the list.
c. Collected £400 of the £800 initial payment from a PayPoint (it was running low on cash and could not manage it all). Service with a smile and queue build up behind us, but quick "sorry this is taking time" to the queue and they smiled / I'm pretty sure understandingly.
d. First Job Centre interview has come through for Monday
e. Completed final UC application ... 4 account setups and 4 applications made. Start of getting a NiN
f. Starting to see job adverts
g. WiFi repeater added to make things easier in distant bedroom from incoming router.
a. ESOL class day 3, 12:00 - 14:30
b. Wiltshire Council visited to see how guests were getting on and how we were getting on. Lovely helpful lady, perhaps came across so well because we have only very minor issues which we tend to resolve ourselves. Of immediate note
* She checked our DBS, passports and driving licenses even though we have previously been checked and it was WC themselves who have done the DBS
* She used a council provided translator (Russian because Ukraine ones in short supply at the moment) and with "icky" connections was only just better than out automated apps - indeed we used those in the less formal end of the meeting. I understand that the translator was recorded.
* Translations of important information to us in English was not onward translated to guests
* She asked us if we were prepared to take other people in similar need. When I explained that all our rooms were filled, she said she meant "when they had found their own home" ... I'm not sure, though, whether they will - or their next move would be back to Ukraine with other siblings still there; we said "let's answer that when we come to it - not ruled out"
* She took a look at their rooms. Much giggling - I suspect they may be untidy
* Possibility raised of the younger guests going into education / getting some sort of course as an alternative to or additional to doing some work.
* Guests spoken with in private (as a private group)
* We were given an opportunity to talk in private but declined, confirming we were happy and it was unnecessary
* Informal "next steps" chat - "case worker" assignment (Job Centre), Doctor, BRP are on the list.
c. Collected £400 of the £800 initial payment from a PayPoint (it was running low on cash and could not manage it all). Service with a smile and queue build up behind us, but quick "sorry this is taking time" to the queue and they smiled / I'm pretty sure understandingly.
d. First Job Centre interview has come through for Monday
e. Completed final UC application ... 4 account setups and 4 applications made. Start of getting a NiN
f. Starting to see job adverts
g. WiFi repeater added to make things easier in distant bedroom from incoming router.
#16
Local activities for children >> Місцеві заходи для дітей / Informal fun football session ...
Last post by grahame - May 21, 2022, 06:10 AMhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/ukraine2uk/posts/512891613899691/
On Saturday 21st May 10am-11:30am my husband is holding a informal fun football session at Stanley Park. Children 0-18 years of age are welcome! This will be for children who have come over from Ukraine, please note sessions will be run in Ukranian and it will be run by a kind volunteer who has also over himself.
Please contact Ed on 07753140803 or myself on Facebook messenger if interested!
On Saturday 21st May 10am-11:30am my husband is holding a informal fun football session at Stanley Park. Children 0-18 years of age are welcome! This will be for children who have come over from Ukraine, please note sessions will be run in Ukranian and it will be run by a kind volunteer who has also over himself.
Please contact Ed on 07753140803 or myself on Facebook messenger if interested!
#17
First things first >> Насамперед / Re: First things: steps on arr...
Last post by grahame - May 19, 2022, 10:15 PM6. Thursday
a. Form filled for WC to claim our £350 on 25th of each month. Easy bit of the day.
b. A morning spent working out how the get the "immediate £200" per guest promised for straight away when the guests arrived. It turned out that Wilts Council have subcontracted payment to Citizens Advice because they are overwhelmed. So are Citizens Advice though, and although asked to ues my email address had used teh email address of the least net-savvy of of guests sending her a page of English to read and answer. We had the codes at about 4 p.m.
c. Setting up a new router so that WiFi reached the final bedroom
d. Three complete Universal Credit accounts set up and applications made - it gets noticably easier each one you do! One more to do tomorrow but we were getting hours from translating!
[And in other news, 2 hour IHFIG (former CATG) meeting, and a couple of Town Councillors around. Call on MTUG, Coffee Shop and other topics ... usual personal stuff that everyone has everyday]
a. Form filled for WC to claim our £350 on 25th of each month. Easy bit of the day.
b. A morning spent working out how the get the "immediate £200" per guest promised for straight away when the guests arrived. It turned out that Wilts Council have subcontracted payment to Citizens Advice because they are overwhelmed. So are Citizens Advice though, and although asked to ues my email address had used teh email address of the least net-savvy of of guests sending her a page of English to read and answer. We had the codes at about 4 p.m.
c. Setting up a new router so that WiFi reached the final bedroom
d. Three complete Universal Credit accounts set up and applications made - it gets noticably easier each one you do! One more to do tomorrow but we were getting hours from translating!
[And in other news, 2 hour IHFIG (former CATG) meeting, and a couple of Town Councillors around. Call on MTUG, Coffee Shop and other topics ... usual personal stuff that everyone has everyday]
#18
Contacting other Ukrainians >> Контакти з іншими українцями / Chippenham, Picnic in James Co...
Last post by grahame - May 19, 2022, 10:34 AMFor Sunday 22nd May and onwards - see https://www.facebook.com/groups/ukraine2uk/posts/512676630587856/
A reminder about SUNDAY PARK PICNIC.
Every Sunday at John Coles Park, Chippenham, 14:30.
Brass band concerts at 15:00 throughout summer. Please bring games and nibbles.
Please copy the idea and have picnics in your local park. If you don't see a sunflower sign there, make your own, get together, follow the rules of the park and have fun!
A reminder about SUNDAY PARK PICNIC.
Every Sunday at John Coles Park, Chippenham, 14:30.
Brass band concerts at 15:00 throughout summer. Please bring games and nibbles.
Please copy the idea and have picnics in your local park. If you don't see a sunflower sign there, make your own, get together, follow the rules of the park and have fun!
#19
First things first >> Насамперед / First things: steps on arrival...
Last post by grahame - May 19, 2022, 08:07 AMOur Ukrainian guests arrived late late late on Saturday night 14th May 2022 . Great to have them with us. Posting here as our experience in the hope it will help others following along.
1. Airport / Bristol.
a. Excellent welcome from the volunteer reception desk to us as hosts, including passing out paperwork that the Red Cross have written in both English and Ukrainian (I am assured they say the same thing)
b. Thank you to Chris from Border Force who phoned though from inside the security area to check with me that we were outside to meet them. We had supplied an introduction letter which our guests had saying we were welcoming them, giving their names and our address, phone number
c. Handshakes and hugs of welcome - open arms offered and accepted - all groups (perhaps 10 on the flight) - same thing, around 45 minutes after touchdown
d. Thank you to the car park folks who buzzed us out of the short term gate free of charge because we said we were picking up Ukrainians
Home and talking (just) into the early hours; seeing rooms; seeing how the lights and front door works (we have a keycard system from the days we were a hotel) and getting phones connected to the WiFi to let friends and family know they had safely arrived.
Talking, by the way, all through translate programs, with much laughter where it got it wrong. "My hovercraft is full of eels" standard
2. Home and Melksham on Sunday
Late to rise, helping the dogs, who are still very nervous and rather yappy, get to know guests and vice versa, early understanding of each other's meal habits and the like. And in the afternoon, "Mum" and Lisa stayed at home while I took a walk with the young adults around Melksham to give them an idea of the lie of the land. So they learned:
a. Where the ESOL classes will take place
b. How much they are welcome with all the blue and yellow displayed around the town
c. That the local police are friendly - bumped into a couple of PCSOs walking around (yes, really)
d. Where the shops and KGV park is - saw the skateboarding activity, children's play area, dog bark, canoes on the river - big thanks to Gabbi for making us welcome and the Ice creams (which I am shamelessly plugging here ;-) )
e. Back via Ruskin Avenue and Pembroke Road, showing them the local Morrisons
Lisa and Mum (mostly Mum) taken over the kitchen - but the younger ones too - and we enjoyed a typical Ukrainian borscht (or as close as they could get) as a family in the evening. Much planning too.
3. Monday - English for Speakers of Other Languages course started in the morning. Request to WC for the £200 see funding / starter because guests arrive with literally just a suitcase of clothes.
[I took the evening away from home stuff for a Town Council meeting - now chair of the Economic Development and Planning Committee which should keep me busy!]
4. Tuesday - to Chippenham
a. Job Centre - under the (mis)apprehension that we could apply there for Universal Credit, thus an NI number, and start getting work as soon as practical for everyone and interim funs. Turns out that the Government web site that says "you can apply at a job centre" really means "you must apply online, but can come in to use our computers if you wish". Lady there confirmed need for bank account and phone number to apply.
b. Three - stopped by their shop. Free of charge, unlimited for a month sims for everyone - I get the impression that with four adults we are rather a large group! Big welcome; it is free for a month. I'm sure that the hope of the supplier is that they will have a new paying customer thereafter
c. The Chippenham Hub - simply as we had time before a bank appointment; good to meet Sandy. Again very much a Welcome - though we all stood outside and chatted because Tuesday there is weight loss day not Ukrainian club.
d. Bank to set up four accounts (we had an appointment); needed mobile phone number, ID (passport) and host completed statement to confirm addresses, together with host confirmation of that address.
5. Wednesday
a. English for Speakers of other languages; guests are now able to get to class on their own. They are getting used to crossing the road and looking in the right direction, and we have shown them how we cross on the very dangerous corner outside our place
b. Dentist / registration, setting up initial appointments for guests with toothache next week and checkups next month for those not in pain. (Really needs NI number or equivalent but that can be added later). Having heard horror stories on this one, relieved that we did not have to struggle
c. First trip to a British supermarket to look at foods and work out what was liked and not liked. Used "Scan and Go" for which I am registered and once again VERY impressed by the politeness of our guests. Elements of explaining offers, and of checking pricing to ensure more economic products. A few things bought to try them out. Pity that we we chosen for a "random quality check" - those things give me the feeling that this customer is not entirely trusted!
d. Start of Universal credit - set up the first of four accounts. Explaining secret question, limitations on what can and cannot be in a password, checking email and phone number via emails and SMS messages with help and assistance provided by hosts speaking into a translator app a bit of a challenge and that'e even before we hit the main form
[I took the evening off to host the Melksham Transport User Group meeting, and then run a friend and colleague back to Beckington]
We are now an extended family. Very much learning all about one another, but communications improving day by day. Our initial concerns prior to the arrival of our guests - simply through a fear of the unknown on all sides have been dispelled. I now have a concern that they are so polite they won't raise issues with us.
Where are we now?
Under way:
English -> continues Friday
To do:
Red Cross £50?
Doctor
NiN / UC -> [continues] Thursday (plan)
Biometrics and BRP
Known Issues:
£200 "immediate" -> entered Monday, Chased Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Sport on TV
Wifi in bedroom 2 -> Thursday (plan)
On the horizon
Visit by Wilts Council to check up on everyone, -> Friday
Working out financial arrangements between us
Employment
Social life / lives
Learning about the area
Getting around on their own
1. Airport / Bristol.
a. Excellent welcome from the volunteer reception desk to us as hosts, including passing out paperwork that the Red Cross have written in both English and Ukrainian (I am assured they say the same thing)
b. Thank you to Chris from Border Force who phoned though from inside the security area to check with me that we were outside to meet them. We had supplied an introduction letter which our guests had saying we were welcoming them, giving their names and our address, phone number
c. Handshakes and hugs of welcome - open arms offered and accepted - all groups (perhaps 10 on the flight) - same thing, around 45 minutes after touchdown
d. Thank you to the car park folks who buzzed us out of the short term gate free of charge because we said we were picking up Ukrainians
Home and talking (just) into the early hours; seeing rooms; seeing how the lights and front door works (we have a keycard system from the days we were a hotel) and getting phones connected to the WiFi to let friends and family know they had safely arrived.
Talking, by the way, all through translate programs, with much laughter where it got it wrong. "My hovercraft is full of eels" standard
2. Home and Melksham on Sunday
Late to rise, helping the dogs, who are still very nervous and rather yappy, get to know guests and vice versa, early understanding of each other's meal habits and the like. And in the afternoon, "Mum" and Lisa stayed at home while I took a walk with the young adults around Melksham to give them an idea of the lie of the land. So they learned:
a. Where the ESOL classes will take place
b. How much they are welcome with all the blue and yellow displayed around the town
c. That the local police are friendly - bumped into a couple of PCSOs walking around (yes, really)
d. Where the shops and KGV park is - saw the skateboarding activity, children's play area, dog bark, canoes on the river - big thanks to Gabbi for making us welcome and the Ice creams (which I am shamelessly plugging here ;-) )
e. Back via Ruskin Avenue and Pembroke Road, showing them the local Morrisons
Lisa and Mum (mostly Mum) taken over the kitchen - but the younger ones too - and we enjoyed a typical Ukrainian borscht (or as close as they could get) as a family in the evening. Much planning too.
3. Monday - English for Speakers of Other Languages course started in the morning. Request to WC for the £200 see funding / starter because guests arrive with literally just a suitcase of clothes.
[I took the evening away from home stuff for a Town Council meeting - now chair of the Economic Development and Planning Committee which should keep me busy!]
4. Tuesday - to Chippenham
a. Job Centre - under the (mis)apprehension that we could apply there for Universal Credit, thus an NI number, and start getting work as soon as practical for everyone and interim funs. Turns out that the Government web site that says "you can apply at a job centre" really means "you must apply online, but can come in to use our computers if you wish". Lady there confirmed need for bank account and phone number to apply.
b. Three - stopped by their shop. Free of charge, unlimited for a month sims for everyone - I get the impression that with four adults we are rather a large group! Big welcome; it is free for a month. I'm sure that the hope of the supplier is that they will have a new paying customer thereafter
c. The Chippenham Hub - simply as we had time before a bank appointment; good to meet Sandy. Again very much a Welcome - though we all stood outside and chatted because Tuesday there is weight loss day not Ukrainian club.
d. Bank to set up four accounts (we had an appointment); needed mobile phone number, ID (passport) and host completed statement to confirm addresses, together with host confirmation of that address.
5. Wednesday
a. English for Speakers of other languages; guests are now able to get to class on their own. They are getting used to crossing the road and looking in the right direction, and we have shown them how we cross on the very dangerous corner outside our place
b. Dentist / registration, setting up initial appointments for guests with toothache next week and checkups next month for those not in pain. (Really needs NI number or equivalent but that can be added later). Having heard horror stories on this one, relieved that we did not have to struggle
c. First trip to a British supermarket to look at foods and work out what was liked and not liked. Used "Scan and Go" for which I am registered and once again VERY impressed by the politeness of our guests. Elements of explaining offers, and of checking pricing to ensure more economic products. A few things bought to try them out. Pity that we we chosen for a "random quality check" - those things give me the feeling that this customer is not entirely trusted!
d. Start of Universal credit - set up the first of four accounts. Explaining secret question, limitations on what can and cannot be in a password, checking email and phone number via emails and SMS messages with help and assistance provided by hosts speaking into a translator app a bit of a challenge and that'e even before we hit the main form
[I took the evening off to host the Melksham Transport User Group meeting, and then run a friend and colleague back to Beckington]
We are now an extended family. Very much learning all about one another, but communications improving day by day. Our initial concerns prior to the arrival of our guests - simply through a fear of the unknown on all sides have been dispelled. I now have a concern that they are so polite they won't raise issues with us.
Where are we now?
Under way:
English -> continues Friday
To do:
Red Cross £50?
Doctor
NiN / UC -> [continues] Thursday (plan)
Biometrics and BRP
Known Issues:
£200 "immediate" -> entered Monday, Chased Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Sport on TV
Wifi in bedroom 2 -> Thursday (plan)
On the horizon
Visit by Wilts Council to check up on everyone, -> Friday
Working out financial arrangements between us
Employment
Social life / lives
Learning about the area
Getting around on their own
#20
Learning the language and customs >> Вивчення мови та звичаїв / Re: English for Speakers of Ot...
Last post by grahame - May 10, 2022, 07:48 PMThese courses are for practical English use. In addition, Wiltshire College will be running courses from 20th June for adults which will lead to exams and certificates. Please watch this space / website for updates