Planning for tomorrow

Our findings

Our research is grounded in the lived experiences of people displaced from Ukraine and those who supported them. It is based on a survey of 1,421 displaced Ukrainians, as well as interviews with Ukrainians, hosts and professional stakeholders.

We found that: 

• The speed, flexibility and accessibility of the UK’s response was novel and offered a route to safety. 
• Community networks helped people displaced from Ukraine feel welcome. 
• Children’s education provided vital stability and supported community integration. 
• While widely accessed, English language classes and employment support did not meet everyone’s needs. 
• The majority of respondents hope to remain in the UK if possible. 
• Short-term visas and a lack of information limited opportunities and created uncertainty. 

Our recommendations

These findings point to four clear priorities for delivering successful refugee protection and effective integration support in the UK: 

1. Secure long-term visa pathways for Ukrainians and other displaced people that offer the stability to integrate and real choice about their futures. 
2. Uphold family unity in responses to forced displacement, supporting both access to safety and integration. 
3. Develop a national strategy for displaced people that better coordinates and sustainably funds integration support, including improved language learning and employment support. 
4. Create a Displacement Response Framework, built on lessons from the Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria responses that is ready to activate in future emergencies.  

These priorities for change are vital not only for Ukrainians in the UK today, but also for how we improve current efforts and prepare for future displacement crises.