British Homes and Schools for Ukrainians (BHSU)

What British Homes and Schools for Ukrainians (BHSU) does

British Homes and Schools for Ukrainians (BHSU) is a UK-registered non-profit company (registration number 14129899) founded in March 2022 in Bristol, in direct response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The organization was established through the merger of capabilities from Business Link, a Ukrainian educational agency with 25+ years of experience placing Ukrainian students in British institutions, and Living Learning English, a Bristol-based language training school founded in 1995. BHSU provides end-to-end humanitarian support to Ukrainian refugees in the UK, spanning seven service lines: housing sponsorship matching under the government Homes for Ukraine scheme, education placement (school scholarships, summer schools, university pathways), employability training, a bilingual Ukrainian-English helpline, professional translation services, trauma-informed yoga therapy, and support for refugee entrepreneurs.

The organization's operations rely on standard, non-proprietary infrastructure — a website (bhsu.co.uk), Google Forms for sponsor and host registration, and phone/email helpline services — with no disclosed technology platform, software product, or AI/ML capabilities. Delivery is conducted by a small team of approximately five staff plus volunteers in both the UK and Ukraine, with co-founders Valeria Samborskaya (Operations), Tatiana Samborskaya (Outreach and Strategy), and Kate Hargreaves (Non-Executive Director) maintaining operational control.

BHSU's financial model is donation-dependent. It receives contributions via Crowdfunder and direct bank transfer, with Gift Aid processed through its fiscal sponsor Prospero World. The organization does not retain the £350-£500/month government payments made to Homes for Ukraine hosts. Translation services represent a potential fee-generating activity, though pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization's reach — approximately £300,000 in secured boarding school scholarships in its first year, 180 students hosted across summer 2024 programmes in the UK and Ireland, and 80 adults receiving language training in summer 2022 — is achieved primarily through partnerships rather than direct infrastructure.

Name

British Homes and Schools for Ukrainians (BHSU)

Legal name

British Homes and Schools for Ukrainians

Website

https://bhsu.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

British Homes and Schools for Ukrainians (BHSU) is a Bristol-based non-profit founded in 2022 that supports Ukrainian refugees in the UK through housing sponsorship matching, education placement, employability training, a bilingual helpline, translation services, and trauma-informed therapy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid & Refugee Resettlement Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Temporary Shelters (624221), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Refugee Reception & Registration (BPADAHAA), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• Humanitarian aid programs
• Education placement support
• Translation interpretation services
• Community integration assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: BHSU receives donations through Crowdfunder and bank transfers. They accept Gift Aid donations through their fiscal sponsor Prospero World.
2. Government Scheme Payments: Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, hosts receive government payments of £350/month for first 12 months and £500/month for next 12 months. BHSU facilitates these arrangements but does not retain these funds.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BHSU is a UK-based non-profit organisation that helps Ukrainian refugees arriving in Britain after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It provides free, wrap-around humanitarian support including matching refugees with vetted host families, school placement, employment assistance, a helpline, Ukrainian/English translation, yoga and therapy sessions, and guidance for refugees starting businesses in the UK.

Product overview

BHSU is a non-profit organization offering a suite of humanitarian services to Ukrainian refugees in the UK. The organization provides housing support through the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, education services including school scholarships and summer programs, employment training, a bilingual helpline, professional translation services, trauma-informed yoga therapy, and entrepreneurial support. These services are delivered through partnerships with British educational institutions, language schools, and charitable organizations, with no unified software product or platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Host Family Housing Placement
• School Placement Service
• Employment Support Service
• Refugee Helpline
• Translation & Interpretation Service
• Yoga & Therapy Sessions
• Refugee Entrepreneur Support

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly £300,000 worth of scholarships secured for children to attend British boarding schools in first year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Prospero WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscal sponsor for BHSU, enabling the organization to accept Gift Aid donations. Established in 2007, Prospero is a charity that empowers positive change by building and supporting NGO partners. Their Charity Adoption programme enables smaller organizations to focus on vital work while Prospero handles administration and governance.
• The Prince's TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver workshops providing young people with tools and skills to find employment in the UK. BHSU provides translation services and helps reach young Ukrainians in Bristol.
• Children of HeroescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots non-profit based in Kyiv helping children who have lost one or both parents in the war. Partnered with BHSU to bring children to UK summer education programmes. Supports over 6,000 children.
• Business LinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian educational agency co-founded by Valeria and Tatiana Samborskaya with over 25 years experience working with British educational institutions. Before the war, enabled up to 500 students annually to learn in British schools, universities, and language schools.
• Living Learning EnglishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBristol-based language training school founded in 1995 by Kate Hargreaves. Specialises in one-to-one courses and homestay experiences, helping students fully immerse in British life. Co-founder of BHSU.
• Academic CampmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnables teenagers to attend summer camps at UK boarding schools, helping them make friends and prepare for the school year in a new country.
• Etherton EducationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducation provider running summer programmes at Wellington School and Blundell's School for Ukrainian children displaced by war.
• British Boarding Schools NetworkmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey part of BHSU's network of boarding schools across the UK providing scholarship places for Ukrainian children.
• Norton Accountancy BristolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEstablished firm of accountants based in London, Cardiff, Newport and Bristol providing financial administration support.
• Ukrainian Global UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative set up in March 2022 to enable talented Ukrainian students to continue education through scholarships at partner universities worldwide. BHSU helps expand outreach and bring UK universities on board.
• Ashtanga Yoga BristolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with BHSU in 2022 to launch free beginners trauma-informed yoga course for Ukrainians in Bristol, with interpreters assisting classes.
• ATC IrelandmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvided summer English programmes at University College Dublin for Ukrainian students displaced by war as part of 2024 Summer Schools initiative.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Refugee Council: UK's largest refugee support charity offering advice, advocacy, and integration services across all refugee populations. Overlaps with BHSU on integration support, education guidance, and employment assistance for Ukrainian refugees.
• British Red Cross: Major UK humanitarian organization providing refugee support including housing assistance, family reunion, and integration services. Operates at significantly larger scale than BHSU and serves overlapping Ukrainian refugee populations.
• Ukraine Appeal (Disasters Emergency Committee): UK DEC Ukraine Appeal coordinates major UK charities' humanitarian response to the Ukraine crisis. While not a direct operational peer, it channels significant funds to organizations supporting Ukrainian refugees and represents the institutional competitor landscape for Ukraine-specific donations.
• City of Sanctuary: UK-wide movement of cities and regions welcoming people seeking sanctuary, including Ukrainians. Overlaps with BHSU on community-based integration support and host mobilization, though structured as a network rather than direct service provider.
• Choose Love: UK-based humanitarian organization supporting refugees worldwide with practical aid and resettlement support. Comparable donation-driven model and refugee assistance mission, though operates at significantly larger scale.
• Refugee Action: UK charity providing practical support to refugees and asylum seekers including housing, employment, and integration services. Wider geographic and population reach than BHSU but addresses many of the same needs for Ukrainian refugees.

Emerging players

• British Ukrainian Society: UK organization focused on Ukrainian-British relations and supporting the Ukrainian community in the UK. Overlaps with BHSU on community support and cultural integration of Ukrainians, though focuses more on diplomatic and cultural activities.

Direct peers

• Reset Communities and Refugees: UK charity focused on supporting vulnerable people including refugees through community-based hosting and integration programs. Directly comparable model of community-led refugee hosting that competes for similar host and refugee populations.
• NACCOM (No Accommodation Network): UK network of organizations and individuals providing accommodation and support to refugees and people seeking asylum. Comparable niche in refugee housing support and resettlement that overlaps with BHSU's mission.
• Refugees at Home: UK charity that matches refugees with hosts offering spare rooms, very similar to BHSU's Homes for Ukraine sponsor matching service. Comparable mission around refugee hosting in the UK, though broader refugee populations than just Ukrainians.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bhsu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about British Homes and Schools for Ukrainians (BHSU)