The North East has accepted 60% of the Ukrainian refugees who would have come here if the region had hosted the national average number.
Government figures published today show that 2,360 Ukrainians have arrived in the region under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme. That is 2.8% of the 120,585 total for England.
The region’s population (including Tees Valley) of 2,646,800 is 4.7% of the total for England of 56,536,400.
The scheme allows Ukrainians who have a sponsor in England willing to host them for at least six months to apply for a visa. Successful applicants can stay in the UK for up to three years.
Sponsors receive £350 a month for up to 12 months, increasing to £500 for up to two years for sponsors able to continue hosting for longer.
The number of visa applications to come to the North East since the scheme was launched last March is 3,390 and the number of visas issued 2,852. Both figures are 2.8% of the total for England.
The largest number of refugees to come to the North East is 516 to Northumberland, followed by 492 to County Durham, 269 to North Tyneside and 259 to Newcastle. The fewest have gone to Hartlepool (51), Middlesbrough (57) and South Tyneside (65). All other council areas in the region have hosted between 102 and 150 Ukrainians.
