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The Guardian view on Britain and refugees: the welcome must be warm, but also organised The Guardian view on Britain and refugees: the welcome must be warm, but also organised
(about 20 hours later)
Refugees, it is said, bring out the best as well as the worst in any society. The powers that be are only too aware of the worst bit of that – fear of the “slam the doors, we’re full” brigade led David Cameron to restrict himself to taking the sort of numbers over a full five-year parliament that Germany took last weekend. The best instincts, however, are now bubbling up too. The Guardian is mapping organised community welcoming efforts, which are popping up everywhere. There is also a lot of spontaneous generosity at the individual level: many charities and churches are overwhelmed with offers to mentor, house and teach English. As things stand, however, this great supply of goodwill can’t be tapped efficiently because there is nothing to connect it with refugee demand. Refugees, it is said, bring out the best as well as the worst in any society. The powers that be are only too aware of the worst bit of that – fear of the “slam the doors, we’re full” brigade led David Cameron to restrict himself to taking the sort of numbers over a full five-year parliament that Germany took last weekend. The best instincts, however, are now bubbling up too. The Guardian is mapping organised community welcoming efforts, which are popping up everywhere. There is also a lot of spontaneous generosity at the individual level: many charities and churches are overwhelmed with offers to mentor, house and teach English. As things stand, however, this great supply of goodwill can’t be tapped efficiently because there is nothing to connect it with refugee demand.
Britain has a rich history to draw on, because – from kindertransport in the late 1930s, to the Ugandans fleeing Idi Amin in the early 1970s – it has been here before. In the past, when there has been an influx of displaced people, a coordinating committee has been established to put shape into civil society’s efforts to provide a welcome. There is now, as Citizens UK is arguing, a compelling case for a welcome and resettlement board. Such a national committee could not only knock the heads of charities together, to encourage the pooling of intelligence and resources, but could also nurture a franchise of local coordination committees. Where something that looks like one already exists, it could be recognised; where it doesn’t, a local church, charity or union branch could be invited to set one up. Britain has a rich history to draw on, because – from kindertransport in the late 1930s, to the Ugandans fleeing Idi Amin in the early 1970s – it has been here before. In the past, when there has been an influx of displaced people, a coordinating committee has been established to put shape into civil society’s efforts to provide a welcome. There is now, as Citizens UK is arguing, a compelling case for a welcome and resettlement board. Such a national committee could not only knock the heads of charities together, to encourage the pooling of intelligence and resources, but could also nurture a franchise of local coordination committees. Where something that looks like one already exists, it could be recognised; where it doesn’t, a local church, charity or union branch could be invited to set one up.
The prime minister has thus far spoken only vaguely about coordinating welcoming efforts. That needs to change. He might be the last man standing who doesn’t believe that his “big society” was more than an empty election pose. Here is a last best chance to prove there was more to it than that. The prime minister has thus far spoken only vaguely about coordinating welcoming efforts. That needs to change. He might be the last man standing who believes that his “big society” was more than an empty election pose. Here is a last best chance to prove there was more to it than that.
•This article was amended on 11 September 2015. An earlier version said “doesn’t believe” where “believes” was meant.