Welcome to Gloucestershire - useful information
Download the Gloucestershire Ukraine Guest Welcome Pack or read through the information tabs below.
- In an emergency
- Introduction and welcome
- When you first arrive - suggested checklist
- What to expect when you first arrive
- Welcome visits
- Registering with a doctor (GP) and Mental Health assistance
- Extra support if you or your children are vulnerable
- Extra help from the county council - bus passes
- Immigration and Biometric Residence Permits
- Finances, employment and benefits
- Opening a bank account, benefits and minimum wage
- Education and childcare - Finding a place at school
- Learning English, post 16 and post 19 Education and Training
- My sponsor wants us to leave, or I want help finding somewhere else to live
- Help with housing and renting
- Driving licenses, bringing your car and moving to the UK
- Help with other issues
One of the first things you should do once you arrive is register with a Doctor (or GP, General Practitioner) at a GP Surgery as soon as possible. Your GP will be able to help you to access any medical or health treatment, including referring you to specialists. Your Sponsor should help you to do this.
You can register at any GP Surgery you choose, and it will normally make sense to register with your closest surgery. You do not need proof of address or ID to do this. There is more information available at https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery/ including on what to do if you are having difficulty registering.
You will not have to pay for any medical care you receive, although you may have to pay for prescriptions (no more than £9.35 per item). There is more information about how the NHS works in the in national government’s welcome pack.
During your Welcome Visit, you should also be given a guide from the local NHS group with more information on healthcare services in Gloucestershire.
For non-emergency healthcare, including advice on how to access medication, you can also dial 111 (the NHS helpline). If you do not speak English, you can request an interpreter by dialling 1 after the recorded message.
For life-threatening emergencies dial 999.
Protection against infectious diseases
NHS vaccinations are free to everyone and give the best protection to children and adults against infectious diseases such as meningitis, mumps, measles, and rubella. All children – irrespective of age - must be fully vaccinated against childhood illnesses prior to starting school or childcare. Details of the UK vaccination schedule can be accessed online or you can speak to your doctor. They are free of charge, and should be arranged through your child or children’s GP.
NHS Vaccination schedule - www.nhs.co.uk/conditions/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them
Mental Health
If you or someone you know needs help in a mental health crisis, you can contact the Gloucestershire Mental Health Crisis Teams or call 0800 169 0398. The Mental Health Crisis Team will support individuals aged 11 and over. Visit https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/crisis/ for more information.
If there is an immediate danger to life, please dial 999 or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department.
For information on mental health services available in Gloucestershire and to check whether you are eligible to refer yourself to the service, go to https://www.bewellglos.org.uk/ or, for children and young adults, go to https://www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk/.
The Government of Ukraine has launched a specialist service for Ukrainians fleeing the war who are suffering with mental health issues. You can access free psychological assistance through the website https://tellme.com.ua/
There are also several organisations in the UK who can help:
- Lifeline: 0808 808 8000 or https://www.lifelinehelpline.info/
- Samaritans: Call 116 123 for listening support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Cruse Bereavement Counselling: 0808 808 1677
- ChildLine, for children and young adults: 0800 1111 https://www.childline.org.uk/
- Barnardo’s Ukrainian Support Helpline - 0800 148 8586, ukrainiansupport@barnardos.org.uk
How to report information about possible war crimes in Ukraine
The Metropolitan Police is supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation regarding possible war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. When you feel ready to, please consider contacting the War Crimes Team to report your experiences, share information and help bring criminals to justice. More information is in this War Crimes Team leaflet.