A retired RAF wing commander has warned that more new hosts will need to be found in Suffolk to accommodate Ukrainian refugees following a recruitment drive by the county council. 

Kim Balshaw, who has been helping to match Ukrainians with sponsors, said: “27 new hosts that are not yet hosting is not going to meet the requirement to host the Ukrainians.” 

He spoke after the county council - in partnership with Community Action Suffolk, which supports the charity sector- organised a series of drop-in sessions across the county throughout November for potential new hosts to find out more about what was involved.

Some 27 new hosts came forward. 

Mr Balshaw said the new accommodation offers should be focused on single mothers with children as this group was the most difficult to find homes for in the private rental sector. 

Latest figures from the Home Office reveal that as of October 25, 1,169 Ukrainians had arrived in the county out of 1,390 visas issued. 

The East Suffolk district had welcomed the highest number, with 365 refugees, while West Suffolk had accommodated the second highest - 308 - with Mid Suffolk district third with 223. 

Mr Balshaw, who has been helping refugees in Felixstowe in the East Suffolk district, said changes to the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme meant hosts were now able to access £500 a month for a two-year period as a ‘thank you’ for accommodating Ukrainians. 

Originally, the scheme had only offered payments for a six-month period and Mr Balshaw said the extension to the payments meant more existing hosts were now "holding on". 

“The hosts are holding on. We have had nobody becoming homeless in Felixstowe which I think might be different to the rest of the county, but as time goes on, everybody is becoming weary,” he added. 

He said the lack of alternative housing, both in the private and social sectors, added to the pressure and he felt that hosts were in a "who blinks first" stand-off with district councils over the provision of social housing. 

But many refugees were now settled in Felixstowe and had their children in local schools and did not want to be put into social housing, which could involve moving into hostels or hotels elsewhere. 

Councillor Bobby Bennett, the county council's cabinet member for equality and communities, said: “We are extremely grateful to all those who have come forward so far and to those who are able to continue to provide invaluable support to families beyond the initial six-month period.

"We fully understand that some hosts are unable to continue, due to changes in their circumstances and we are supporting those guests to either move into private accommodation or be re-matched with a new host."