The UAEP, together with Ukrainian Voice UK and Birmingham for Ukraine, unite to work on a pathway to permanent settlement for Ukrainians living in the UK.

While the Ukrainian schemes were designed as a short-term response, the reality of a war entering its fifth year has created a pressing need for long-term certainty and clarity fo Ukrainians living in the UK. Simone, whose roots go back to Ukraine, says that this fight can not be won with a silver bullet.

"This requires an extensive amount of ongoing dialogue from multiple angles with multiple ministers", says lead advocacy and lobbyist for the pathway to settlement Simone Schehtman. The strategy relies on a "total package" of arguments directed at multiple departments and agencies, including the Home Office and the Foreign Office.

Beyond policy, Ukrainians face "everyday" hurdles. While the right to work and rent is legally clear, landlords and employers often favour candidates with more permanent status over those with expiring visas. The movement seeks to replace the uncertainty of yearly extensions with a partnership that respects the contributions and the trauma of those fleeing an unending war.