Citizens UK had big news to celebrate on the first day of Refugee Week, June 2019.
Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes finally announced that the UK’s flagship refugee scheme, which includes both Council-led resettlement (VPRS) and Community Sponsorship, is being extended. Leaders and refugee families met Caroline Nokes at a private visitto a South London Citizens member church All Saints West Dulwich.
Years of hard work settling refugees in communities up and down the country led up to this moment. Now our Community Sponsorship foundation can continue to help groups settle refugees and 5,000 more places have been pledged for 2020 as part of a revamped resettlement schemes that importantly also ensures any families settled under community sponsorship are counted as additional to the Government’s own numbers.
Citizens UK also used refugee week 2019 to celebrate the work of cities involved in the scheme, with Leeds and Birmingham amongst cities gaining recognition for their work.