Ukraine Guest & Host Dispute Resolution - FREE

Homes For Ukraine Dispute Resolution:

This is something I am doing as a volunteer (a pro-bono) activity - I am giving my time at no cost to either party.

I wholeheartedly support the fight of the Ukrainian people and nation to defend themselves against the invasion of their country by Putin’s Russian forces; and their ultimate goal to be reunited with their families and to live in peace and harmony on their home soil at the end of this war.

I am also in awe of the generosity shown by the many British families that have opened up their homes to host Ukrainian guests in their hours of ultimate need.

I recognise that despite the best intensions of all concerned, that disagreements and disputes can occur between guests and hosts and so I am offering a FREE service to Ukrainian Hosts and Guests to facilitate and help resolve such disputes.

I am offering this service because I want to do my little part to help both the host and their guests to live in harmony and to build as many positive memories of this time living in the UK.

Potential causes of a dispute:

I understand that despite the best endeavours, disputes can occur for many reasons. Here are just a few of the areas that could cause a dispute:-

  • Circumstances change - family members may return home and may want ‘their room back’.

  • The hosts may have only expected to host for the original 6 months of the original publicised scheme.

  • The increased cost of living or changes in jobs for the host family may make hosting more financially challenging than initially expected.

  • Habits of either the host or guest that may have been mildly irritating could become a more significant cause of utter annoyance and create the basis of a dispute.

  • Generational differences can occur between hosts and guests and particularly if the hosts are not used to having young ones in the home again.

  • Cultural and language misunderstandings, sometimes can be amusing but at other times can be the cause of disagreement.

  • Moving to another country and another culture is never easy (I know as I have done it when I lived in France), when added to the complexity of being separated from love ones that are living in or near to a war zone this is even more challenging.

THIS IS A FREE SERVICE TO PARTIES IN THE HOMES FOR UKRAINE SCHEME - my gift to the Ukrainian community.

How does this dispute resolution work?

Anything said to me or any information given to me will be totally confidential and I will destroy any information once the mediation or facilitated meeting has been concluded.

I can either meet with you face-to-face either at your home or at a more neutral private venue (which I would need you to find) - this could be a community centre, church hall or upstairs room of a pub); or we could meet virtually using zoom.

We will have either a ‘Facilitated Meeting’ or a ‘Face-to-Face Mediation’ or ‘Online Mediation’ (you can click on those words to see what this involves).

Steps to resolution:

  1. Talk to your host or guest to agree that you would like an independent person to help resolve your dispute.

  2. Either the host or guest contacts me.

  3. I will arrange to speak with each party (host and guest) in turn by telephone to gain a background to the dispute and to understand what each party would like to achieve.

  4. We will arrange a meeting with all parties together, if it is no more than 90 minutes, it will most likely be a facilitated meeting if however it is more complicated it will be a mediation.

  5. We will work together to find a solution, if needed this can take 2 or 3 facilitated meetings where an agreed change can be tested and actions adapted as necessary.

  6. If a settlement is reached, I will check its progress with each party in a brief call a couple of weeks after the settlement.

THIS IS A FREE SERVICE TO PARTIES IN THE HOMES FOR UKRAINE SCHEME - my gift to the Ukrainian community.

Who will be the facilitator / mediator?

I am Russell Shackleton, I am a qualified Civil, Commercial and Workplace Mediator. My qualification is from the ‘Civil Mediation Council’ which is one of the professional organisations for mediators in the United Kingdom. I will be leading the facilitation / mediation.

I work with other qualified mediators, if another mediator is needed, I will arrange for one from my network of associates. The process will take place in English but if needed we can arrange for someone that speaks Ukrainian to interpret.

Anyone involved in the dispute will agree to abide by the confidentiality agreement.