Learn how you can resettle a refugee family in your local area

The Greater London Authority and Sponsor Refugees would like to invite you to learn more about the Community Sponsorship scheme. The event will be taking place in Committee Room 3 at City Hall from 18:00 to 20:00 on Thursday 20th February. To register for the event, visit the Eventbrite page.

What is Community Sponsorship?

Community sponsorship is a practical way for communities to help transform the lives of a vulnerable refugee family who is being resettled to the UK. Sponsor groups take on the responsibility of welcoming them into their new environment and supporting them on their journey as they build a new life.

What do sponsors in the UK do?

Sponsor groups are matched with a refugee family from the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme and support them from their moment of arrival in UK. This includes: meeting the family at the airport, providing a warm welcome and orientation, arranging housing, supporting access to medical and social services, organising English language tuition, and support towards employment and self-sufficiency.

What are the benefits of sponsorship?

Refugee sponsorship has been operating in Canada for close to 40 years, and has resettled almost 300,000 refugees. Sponsors make a huge difference to the lives of resettled refugees. Having a personal support network helps refugees settle more quickly. They have friends to practise English with, and informal networks to find employment. It is also mutually rewarding: the local community benefits from the experience as new connections and relationships are forged

I’m interested: where can I learn more?

Guidance for prospective sponsors is available on the Home Office website here.