In order for community sponsorship to expand into new countries, as well as broaden its reach within countries that have already adopted this ‘gold standard’ approach,  new ways of supporting the movement are called for.   Pathways International is a new global partnership, supported by UK Welcomes Refugees, that is dedicated to growing community […]

  Over 130 delegates gathered for the event hosted by the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative and Amnesty International in Lisbon, Portugal. The opening session explored key developments in sponsorship and community welcome over the past year and how narratives have shifted over the period and how community welcome initiatives have evolved as the initial ‘crisis [...]

  Community Sponsorship offers refugees the opportunity to transition from a place where they cannot flourish to a place where they can flourish and grow. The transition from a war-torn region to safety is filled with challenges and risks ranging from exploitation by traffickers to imprisonment and even death. Community Sponsorship offers an alternative, a [...]

      UK Welcomes Refugees will join an international gathering of refugee agencies and resettlement organisations in Lisbon organised by the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative (GRSI) and Amnesty International.   The Gathering will explore key developments in sponsorship and community welcome over the past year. As a growing resettlement strategy that is being adopted [...]

  On the 5 th September 2023, the Community Sponsorship Alliance UK met for ‘Afternoon Tea’ in the House of Commons Jubilee Room at the invitation of Helen Hayes MP. The gathering was an important opportunity to call for “safe routes to safe homes in safe communities for people seeking sanctuary” in other words for […]

The Reset discussion paper brings to light some important conversations surrounding the use of community sponsorships. The main benefits of this scheme is that it is sustainable, scalable and benefits both the refugees and the communities.   What is a community sponsorship scheme? It is when local communities groups such as, civil society organisations, charities [...]

Press release: 30th January 2023   Hong Kongers and welcomers gather to mark second anniversary of British National (Overseas) visa scheme and celebrate lunar new year.   Recently-arrived Hong Kongers and those helping them to settle and integrate in the UK gathered on Monday 30 January at an evening reception held by the Welcoming Committee […]

The recent study on civic engagement and social integration of Hong Kongers in the UK conducted jointly by UK Welcome Refugees and the Good Neighbour Church, England have inspired some insights on this issue. The study collected data from 586 Hong Kongers who came to the UK through the BN(O) visa scheme which was first [...]

The Community Sponsorship Scheme enables community groups to directly welcome and support a resettled family into their local community. The Scheme was established in response to the desire of civil society to support refugees and is an example of effective government and civil society collaboration. Refugees resettled through the Community Sponsorship scheme complements those resettled [...]

UK Welcomes Refugees and people forced to leave their homes because of conflict and persecution.  Our work supports refugees and the communities that receive them by promoting partnerships with civil society organisations, national institutions, community and faith-based sponsors.   Welcoming and supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers to become part of a host community is [...]