Community groups across the United Kingdom now have
the chance to bid for a share of a £2.6 million fund
to support programmes that will help newly arrived
families make the best start to rebuilding their
lives.
This money can be used to support people through
buddying schemes, help families to access services
like registering for GPs or opening bank accounts, or
find employment.
The Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE)
grant schemes will provide community support in every
region across England and nationally for Hong Kong
BN(O) status holders.
The government is also making £100,000 available for
an organisation to develop education resources for
schools and colleges in the UK to teach young people
about the nation’s historic connection and commitment
to Hong Kong.
An additional £300,000 will be available for hate
crime reporting services in England, including a
helpline and website for BN(O) status holders and all
others of East and Southeast Asian (ESA) descent to
report hate crime incidents. This will help the
government monitor and tackle hate crime against
these communities.
Communities Minister
said:
Today’s launch is the next major step in delivering
on our commitment to the people of Hong Kong.
These programmes totalling £2.6 million will
deliver practical support that will make a real
difference to those settling in the UK, giving them
the best possible start as they build a life in
this country.
I encourage organisations across the country to bid
for this funding and help us deliver the assistance
these families need and that will build community
cohesion.
In April, the government announced a Hong Kong
British Nationals (Overseas) Integration Programme,
backed by over £43 million, to help status holders
access housing, work and educational support.
In addition to the VCSE grant schemes, councils in
England will benefit from £30.7 million to provide
targeted support for new arrivals, offering help with
English language and to those whose circumstances
change and are at risk of destitution. The government
has issued new guidance
for local authorities in England today to deliver
this work.
£5.8 million will also be provided to Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland to deliver similar activity.
Bids for funding to deliver these programmes will be
open until 1 September.
