BBC Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett offers spare room to Ukrainian family

Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett has signed up to offer his home to a Ukrainian family fleeing the war.

The entrepreneur and author, 29, said he had applied to the Government sponsorship scheme and hoped to house refugees in the spare room of his home. As part of the scheme, members of the public must provide accommodation for at least six months and will receive an optional tax-free monthly payment of £350.

Bartlett is the founder and former CEO of social media marketing agency The Social Chain, which he set up from his bedroom in Manchester. He said he would donate the money to the Disasters Emergency Committee, which is carrying out work in Ukraine.

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He said on Twitter: “I have a spare room at my home here in London so I’ve signed up to offer it to a Ukrainian family. The £350 monthly fee for housing a refugee family will be donated to @decappeal who @DeborahMeaden recommended for their ongoing work in Ukraine.”

Bartlett urged his followers to join him in applying to the scheme and shared a link. He is the latest famous name, after Cher and Benedict Cumberbatch, to express an interest in housing Ukrainians who have left their country following the Russian invasion.

Bartlett, a university dropout, went on to build The Social Chain and Media Chain businesses, taking his company public aged 27. He left the business after six years to pursue other investment opportunities