A £1 million fund for organisations and communities wanting to
support refugees coming to the UK opens for bids today.
The fund is for the community sponsorship scheme which enables
community groups to take on the rewarding role of welcoming and
supporting refuge families in the UK. Sponsor groups can include
charities, businesses, local authorities, community groups and
third sector organisations.
The fund is designed to give experienced organisations the
resources to provide training and support to groups who want to
sponsor refugees. It aims to bring people together from across
society to support vulnerable refugees through community
sponsorship.
, Minister of State for
Immigration said:
The community sponsorship scheme has got off to an excellent
start and this funding will help the scheme develop even
further.
The work of the charities and volunteers who have welcomes
refugees into their communities so far is inspiring.
I wholeheartedly encourage organisations who feel that they can
help to grow the community sponsorship scheme to apply for this
funding.
Organisation with relevant experience are encouraged to apply to
the fund, which seeks to achieve outcomes including:
- training for community groups on how to welcome and support
refugees in their area, and how to apply to become sponsors
- connecting people and organisations who want to help
resettled refugees through community sponsorship
- raising awareness of community sponsorship across different
UK communities
