Guidance allowing Ukrainian refugees to move to a new host after six months has been issued, as the number of arrivals in Suffolk from Ukraine passes one thousand.

A Ukraine bulletin published on Suffolk County Council's website on Wednesday cites government guidance that those on the Homes for Ukraine scheme can move to new hosts after six months.

This update is aimed at those refugees whose hosts cannot continue to house them after six months, and who are not ready for alternative accommodation such as a rented home.

This is an important change to the advice in the August 4 bulletin, which stated Ukrainian refugees must find alternative accommodation, such as renting, if hosts expect them to move out after six months. On August 5, the government updated their guidance to allow for moving to new hosts.

The update comes as the number of Ukrainian refugees in Suffolk passed one thousand this month. Between July 26 and August 9, the number increased from 928 to 1,008.

According to data by the Home Office and the department for levelling up, housing and communities, Suffolk has so far provided homes to the lowest numbers of Ukrainian refugees across the East Anglian counties.

Cambridgeshire has housed the highest – at 1,450 by August 9. The county also has the lowest population, at 678,600 in 2021.

1,034 Ukrainian refugees had arrived through the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Norfolk by August 9. This is the most populous county in the east, with 916,200 people in 2021.

Wednesday's bulletin states it is the guests' responsibility to find a new hosts, although current hosts may be able to help by making enquiries or passing on contacts. GOV.UK advice suggests faith groups, community groups and work as potential places to find new hosts.

Those struggling to find a new host can contact the Suffolk County Council. However, the bulletin says that 'availability of hosts may mean location and timescale requests cannot be met'.

Suffolk County Council must be contacted in all cases where a new host has been found, to enable them to make the required safeguarding and accommodation checks before the Ukrainian refugee moves in.

For those struggling to find a new host and those who have found one, the email address with which to contact the council is: [email protected].

The council publishes Ukraine bulletins every fortnight, which can be found here: Ukraine: latest news and further information | Suffolk County Council.