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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 [...]

We were founded in July 2020 with a Mission to ‘secure the safe and good resettlement of those seeking sanctuary in the United Kingdom primarily through the promotion of Community Sponsorship and related initiatives which involve and encourage the active participation and leadership of Civil Society.’ We are a registered Charity (1195770) and Company (12679315) [...]

Following the latest developments in Ukraine, Caritas Internationalis has released a statement on the situation, and announced they will soon launch an emergency appeal. Donations can already be made via this page. View the statement on the Caritas Internationalis website here. “The events which began early this morning will inevitably lead to a colossal humanitarian [...]

UKWR deplores the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a democratic and independent European state.   We urge the UK government to ensure that all people fleeing the conflict can access humanitarian assistance, particularly the most vulnerable, and that freedom of movement is guaranteed for all seeking refuge from conflict.   Whilst we welcome the partial relaxation of [...]

The Central London Social Integration Workshop is a perfect example of how people can build relationships, get to know each other, and support each other online. Times flies, next week is the last session, we are going to have face-to-face gatherings at St. Matin-in-the-field, and more exciting activities will be launched. Let's act together to [...]

Would you like to welcome and support newly arrived Hongkongers into your local community? We invite you to share your knowledge and life experience in a one-off online workshop or to become involved in a long-term volunteering engagement.   Following the London workshop, we will join hands with the Hong Kong Link Up and Chinese [...]

A movement, storytelling, dance theatre project with Luca Silvestrini’s Protein Luca Silvestrini’s Protein has funding from The Rebecca Dykes Foundation and Arts Council England to provide free creative opportunities for adults who have crossed borders as migrants, refugees, asylum seekers or immigrants. Project Content:  Protein will make links with organisations who support Refugees, Asylum Seekers [...]

We cordially invite you to join us for an online workshop named "Integrating into the UK - Make it Easy" in Solihull, Birmingham with us. Through four online sharing and learning sessions, you can quickly meet local friends and learn about British life and culture. Date: 9/3, 16/3, 23/3, 30/3 (every Wednesday) Time: 8:00-9:30pm Language: [...]

The trip to meeting and organise the welcome Hong Kongers group in Birmingham was a great success! We met with some passionate pastors and community leaders, joined wonderful meetings and a lunar new year celebration party with great foods. Hopefully the organising effort and these wonderful connections with the organisation will give greater energy for [...]

UK Welcomes Hong Kongers' trip to Canterbury.   Rev'd Harry Ching from St Martin-in-the-Fields lead the tour and explained the significance of the Cathedral and the city of Canterbury in Cantonese. It was excellence way for Hong Kongers to know more about the British culture with lots of fun. The guild tour was very successful. [...]

'Welcome Hong Kongers Project' (WHKP) is a diverse civil society group organising under the umbrella of UK Welcomes Refugees, Registered Company 12679315. We are neutral and non partisan politically and our vision is of a more welcoming world for all.   We have come together in response to the UK Government's generous decision to welcome [...]

On Tuesday 23rd March UK Welcomes Refugees organised a special celebration of Syria’s rich culture, music and people. Featuring our very own Ahmad Al-Rashid and Nour Sakr as live hosts.  The online concert included breath-taking musical performances from some of the most outstanding Syrian musicians in the UK, with Maya Youssef (qanun), Adnan Shamdin (tambur), [...]

On Thursday 11 February, UK Welcomes Refugees held an online panel discussion discussing the role civil society in the UK should play in building a welcoming country for Hong Kongers. Click here to watch the recording of this event.   The panel, chaired by Neil Jameson CBE, was made up of the following speakers:   Benedict […]

On Monday 8th February, UK Welcomes Refugees held an online panel discussion reflecting on Austen Ivereigh’s work with Pope Francis in their new book Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future. Austen discussed his experiences working with Pope Francis on the book, and the panel of interfaith and civil leaders, chaired by Sarah […]

  By Callum McKenna (Captain) Hythe Salvation Army Church & Community Centre   It was a fairly ordinary, drizzly Sunday afternoon in August 2019. The dining room was buzzing with chatter as we shared stories about our families and our aspirations. Empty plates cluttered the table, the only evidence remaining of the epic Sunday lunch […]

Delegation from the UK Welcomes Refugees met with Chris Philp MP, Minister for Home Office on Friday 11th September 2020. The delegation had a very constructive conversation with the Minister and raised a number of important issues including as to when resettlement would resume. The delegation shared stories of welcome through community sponsorship of refugees […]