British Red Cross: lessons learned from the UK’s Ukraine response
A short note on a new British Red Cross report summarising what worked (and what didn’t) in the UK’s response to displacement from Ukraine — and why long-term certainty matters for integration.
A new British Red Cross report, Planning for tomorrow: lessons learned from the UK’s response to displacement from Ukraine (Dec 2025), reviews the UK’s visa-led response since 2022 and what it has meant in practice for safety, welcome and longer-term integration. The report notes that the schemes have enabled more than 225,000 people to find safety, and presents findings from a nationwide survey of displaced Ukrainians (with the “stay long term” question based on 1,392 respondents currently living in the UK). A clear headline is that 82% say they would like to stay in the UK long term (5+ years) — and over 91% want to remain for at least another two years — highlighting how quickly “temporary” protection has become a long-term reality for many families.
The report also sets out four priorities for policy change: a future-ready Displacement Response Framework (including adoption of the British Red Cross “Roadmap to Safety, Protection and Belonging”), secure long-term pathways for Ukrainians and others to provide stability and real choice, uphold family unity, and a national strategy that better coordinates and sustainably funds integration support (including English language learning and employment support). Alongside these priorities, the report captures how uncertainty around short-term leave affects everyday decisions — especially around housing, work, education and healthcare — and notes that many respondents want clearer guidance on what comes in future.
Sources: British Red Cross – Ukraine: lessons learned (report + recommendations) · Planning for tomorrow: lessons learned from the UK’s response to displacement from Ukraine (PDF)