Citizens UK - Full Community Sponsorship of refugees launched in the UK: first refugees expected to arrive within weeks

Following extensive consultation with the National Refugee Welcome Board and Citizens UK, the Home Office has today (19 July) launched Full Community Sponsorship for refugees. With the launch of the brand new scheme (modelled on a similar, hugely successful, programme in Canada) community groups will be given the opportunity to personally welcome and support refugees arriving in the UK.

Full Community Sponsorship gives community groups, including churches, synagogues and mosques, an opportunity to get involved in helping refugees through taking the lead responsibility for their resettlement and integration in a community. The sponsoring groups raise money to help support refugees and are obliged to demonstrate to the Home Office that they are capable of providing the welcome and practical help needed.

The National Refugee Welcome Board, a network of more than 40 civic society organisations, convened by Citizens UK, has been instrumental in bringing Community Sponsorship to the UK. A number of local groups across the country have been working in cooperation with Citizens UK and the Home Office since the turn of the year to become 'vanguard' community sponsors. As a result of this announcement, some of these groups expect to be welcoming refugee families to their communities within weeks.

Read more here .