A new £1million funding pot to help community groups support
refugees fleeing the war in Syria to settle in the UK has been
announced by the Home Secretary to mark the one year anniversary
of the Community Sponsorship scheme (Wednesday 19 July).
The Community Sponsorship scheme, which was launched by the Home
Secretary at Lambeth Palace last year, enables community groups
to take on the role of supporting refugees who have been
resettled from the camps in the countries surrounding Syria in
the UK.
Since the scheme launched last year, 53 refugees have been
welcomed by 10 community groups across the UK. Community
sponsors, including charities, faith groups and churches, provide
housing for the refugee families, as well as helping them to
integrate into life in the UK, access medical and social
services, arranging English language tuition and supporting them
towards employment and self-sufficiency.
The new two-year £1million fund will provide training and support
for groups signing up to the scheme.
Home Secretary said:
“I am delighted that the Community Sponsorship scheme has got off
to such an excellent start.
“The work of the volunteers who have welcomed refugees into their
communities over the last year is inspiring, as is the compassion
of the many local authorities who have provided their support.
“But this is just the beginning. I hope many more groups, from
across England and Wales, will be inspired to get involved. That
is why I have announced this funding, to help more communities
welcome vulnerable families looking to create a new life and
bring real benefits to the places in which they will live and
work.”
One year ago Lambeth Palace became the first community group to
welcome a refugee family. Since then community groups from
Manchester to Cornwall and Wales have also welcomed these
vulnerable families into their communities.
The , , said:
“Last year we welcomed a family of Syrian refugees to live with
us here at Lambeth Palace through the Community Sponsorship
scheme. It has been an absolute privilege and joy to get to know
this special family over the last year as we’ve supported them to
start a new life in the UK. They have been a blessing to us in so
many ways.
“It’s amazing to think that we are celebrating the one year
anniversary of the scheme. In whatever way you can, I would
encourage everyone to get involved with community sponsorship and
support refugees. It is truly a life-changing experience.”
The UK scheme has been set up by the government working closely
with civil society groups and international partners including
the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative, which is jointly led
by the Government of Canada, the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees, Open Society Foundations, the Radcliffe Foundation,
and the University of Ottawa.
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said:
“The success of Canada’s refugee resettlement program would not
be possible without our private sponsorship program. I’m very
pleased to see that the UK has already experienced similar
success with its own sponsorship model within its first year.
“Through the Community Sponsorship Scheme for Refugees, the
UK will be able to help bring more vulnerable people around
the world to safety. I have no doubt that private sponsorship,
which has been so positive in Canada, will also bring
long-term advantages for individual communities in the UK and the
entire country.”
Community Sponsorship is just one way that the UK government is
helping to support refugees. The government remains on track to
meet its commitment of resettling 23,000 of the most vulnerable
refugees through the Vulnerable Person and Children’s
Resettlement Schemes by 2020, with over 7000 refugees resettled
as of March this year.
Notes to editors
-
· For
a photograph of the Home Secretary meeting a family of refugees
resettled by the Salvation Army through the Community Sponsorship
Scheme please contact Home Office Press Office.
- · The
£1million funding will be made available over the next two years
to provide training and support for community groups wanting to
sign up to the scheme and support a refugee family.
- · We
will be launching an open competition for the £1million fund in
the autumn and will invite bids from interested organisations
with the necessary expertise to advise and support community
groups wanting to become community sponsors.
- · The
government is the second largest donor in humanitarian
assistance, pledging £2.3 billion in aid to Syria and the
neighbouring countries.
- · The
government also continues to provide vital support for vulnerable
children fleeing conflict and danger, providing refuge or other
forms of leave to more than 8,000 children last year alone
including more than 900 unaccompanied children from Europe.
-
· Introducing
Community Sponsorship in the UK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFM-Dot5-Z0
- · For
more information on community sponsorship see the following
websites:
o Global Refugee Sponsorship
Initiative: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/about_us/mandate/initiatives/grsi.asp
o Open Society Foundations: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/
o Radcliffe Foundation: http://radcliffefoundation.org/
