88 people will move to the Congleton area, according to the Congleton Area Support Network.

The figures were revealed by Paul Nixon, a web services worker founded the support organisation after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at a Congleton Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, the man who is hosting two Ukrainians in his Congleton home said.

"Over 88 Ukrainians are in the process, and over 50 are currently here," he revealed.

"We have 76 hosts so far. 50% have been matched. 

In his day job, Paul works for Corporate Eye Web Services Limited, who have an office in Riverside on Mountbatten Way. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Congleton Nub News)

"We have the capacity from the existing hosts to bring another 80 or 100 Ukrainian's. Now that's just for the Congleton area. 

"The term 'Congleton area' is quite loose for us. We have hosts as far as Holmes Chapel, Flash, Siddington and Alsager."

advertisement

The Congleton Area Support Network also have over 50 volunteers who help with logistics in getting those escaping the at-war country to come here.

"We were guided by one principle," he added.

A Lawton Street business puts up a poster for Ukraine. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Congleton Nub News)

"If you were that refugee saying goodbye to their father or family member going to fight, how would you want them to feel if they came over here?"

 "We start with awareness, build community of the willing, find out who can sponsor, who can't but can help. 

"We visit the hosts, make sure they understand what is required and have the suitable space, and to see if they will qualify for Cheshire East's criteria pre-vetting. 

"The refugee camps have said can you have as many people as you can take. So we organise a video call of host and Ukrainian as soon as possible.

It has been 84 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Congleton Nub News)

"We prepare their visa, what they have to do for their first weeks. We provide back-up, if host needs help picking up from airport for instance. We help them with the forms they have to fill in. 

"The government is giving £200 per family, but you have to help them get their biometrics in Manchester to extend their visa from 2 months to 3 years. 

"There's loads of problems you have to face and we help them with that.

"We also have a monthly clothes boutique. We collect donations, put it out on rails for them to browse through and choose. As we feel it is better than handing them a bin bag of clothes. 

"We also use the event as a social one, glued together by cake and coffee. And a space where they can see their children are relaxed. The event also helps them with their English."

Paul is hosting two sisters aged 23 and 25 in his home. He has managed to get one of them a place at the Royal Northern College of Music. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Congleton Nub News)

Last week, Congleton Nub News revealed the total figure of Ukrainian's confirmed to come to Cheshire East, but now thanks to Paul's words, we have a figure for the Congleton area.

Congleton: If you want to host, or just help Paul's group, please head to their website.

Congleton: Have you signed up for our FREE Friday weekly newsletter? It contains each week's essential Congleton news stories, and one EXCLUSIVE article?

Close to 4000 of you have signed up already. Simply enter your email address in the shaded box below or on this link.

Free from pop-up ads, or unwanted surveys, Congleton Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

You can find us on Facebook and Twitter.