Community Sponsorship Scheme
One of the main routes we support refugees is through the Community Sponsorship Scheme (CSS) in the South East of England.
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Community sponsorships are one of the very few safe and legal routes for refugees to seek sanctuary in the UK. CSS was launched in the UK in 2016 to increase the number of refugees resettled in the UK and to provide a more community-driven approach to resettlement. The pathway allows community groups, such as charities, faith groups, and local businesses, to directly sponsor and support the resettlement of refugees in the local area.​
The purpose of the scheme is to enable local groups to take an effective role in integrating refugees into their community. This includes emotional support, such as meeting the family at the airport to welcome them upon arrival, cultural orientation, and helping them become self-sufficient. The scheme allows citizens the opportunity to actively and directly support people seeking asylum who might otherwise have the prospect to settle in the UK.
The benefits of the CSS are huge, not only for the refugees who are resettled this way, but for communities who welcome them. One study found that host groups were reported to find the scheme beneficial in building community cohesion and fostering intercultural understanding. The charity, Reset, reported in 2021 that 97% of sponsors felt that community sponsorship had a positive impact on their community. In addition, 98% of refugees who arrived through community sponsorship were able to access education, 85% were able to access employment, and 72% were able to access English language classes.
If you are interested in forming a group, you can find more information on the process here. Sponsorships are provided with free training and information from Reset.
Formed groups based in the Southeast of England can apply to Resettlement for support for their application to the Home Office. Sponsorships can also receive support if they are within the first 12 months of welcoming a refugee.
