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Archbishop of Canterbury takes in Syrian family under refugee scheme Archbishop of Canterbury takes in Syrian refugee family
(35 minutes later)
A Syrian family is to be housed in an empty property in the grounds of Lambeth Palace, the archbishop of Canterbury has confirmed, as he and the Home Office launched a scheme to encourage members of the public, community groups, faith groups, charities and businesses to sponsor refugee families resettling in the UK. A Syrian family is to be housed in an empty property in the grounds of Lambeth Palace, the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has confirmed, as he and the Home Office launched a scheme to encourage members of the public, community groups, faith groups, charities and businesses to sponsor refugee families resettling in the UK.
The full community sponsorship scheme is intended to help the government fulfil its commitment to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK before 2020. Around 1,800 refugees have been resettled so far, less than 10% of the total. The full community sponsorship scheme is intended to help the government fulfil its commitment to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in the UK before 2020. About 1,800 refugees have been resettled so far, less than 10% of the total.
Over the past year there have been numerous ad hoc and sometimes chaotic efforts by community groups and members of the public to provide help and aid to refugees waiting to come to the UK. Donations of food, clothing, books and household goods, plus offers of accommodation in spare rooms, have overwhelmed social action groups.Over the past year there have been numerous ad hoc and sometimes chaotic efforts by community groups and members of the public to provide help and aid to refugees waiting to come to the UK. Donations of food, clothing, books and household goods, plus offers of accommodation in spare rooms, have overwhelmed social action groups.
The home secretary, Amber Rudd, said: “The response of the British public to the refugee crisis has been one of overwhelming generosity and many have been moved to make kind offers of assistance.”The home secretary, Amber Rudd, said: “The response of the British public to the refugee crisis has been one of overwhelming generosity and many have been moved to make kind offers of assistance.”
She said the sponsorship scheme was “a groundbreaking development for resettlement in the UK and I wholeheartedly encourage organisations that can help to offer their support.” She said the sponsorship scheme was “a groundbreaking development for resettlement in the UK and I wholeheartedly encourage organisations that can help to offer their support”.
Sponsoring organisations must have the agreement of local authorities and set out a comprehensive plan for settlement in order to apply to join the scheme. Sponsors will provide housing, help refugees access medical and social services, arrange English tuition and support refugees in finding work.Sponsoring organisations must have the agreement of local authorities and set out a comprehensive plan for settlement in order to apply to join the scheme. Sponsors will provide housing, help refugees access medical and social services, arrange English tuition and support refugees in finding work.
A “Help Refugees in the UK” page on the gov.uk website will allow members of the public to offer support. People will be able to choose from a range of donation options, including clothing, baby equipment, outings and the use of vacant housing, which must be self-contained and available for at least 12 months.
Related: 'This is what I'm meant to be doing': the vicar welcoming Muslims to churchRelated: 'This is what I'm meant to be doing': the vicar welcoming Muslims to church
Lambeth Palace, Justin Welby’s home and the administrative headquarters of the archbishop of Canterbury, is the first community group to be approved to receive a refugee family. Welby first offered a cottage in the grounds of Lambeth Palace as a home for a family from Syria last September. A “help refugees in the UK” page on the gov.uk website will allow members of the public to offer support. People will be able to choose from a range of donation options, including clothing, baby equipment, outings and the use of vacant housing, which must be self-contained and available for at least 12 months.
“It is an enormous privilege to welcome a family to live in a cottage in the grounds of Lambeth Palace,” he said. The scheme “presents churches and other civil society groups with the opportunity to provide sanctuary to those fleeing war-torn places,” he added. Lambeth Palace, Welby’s home and his administrative headquarters as archbishop of Canterbury, is the first community group to be approved to receive a refugee family. Welby first offered a cottage in the grounds of Lambeth Palace as a home for a family from Syria last September.
“It is an enormous privilege to welcome a family to live in a cottage in the grounds of Lambeth Palace,” he said. The scheme “presents churches and other civil society groups with the opportunity to provide sanctuary to those fleeing war-torn places”, he added.
The government has agreed to take up to 3,000 vulnerable children and their relatives directly from refugee camps in the Middle East and north Africa, on top of the 20,000 refugees under the vulnerable persons resettlement (VPR) scheme.The government has agreed to take up to 3,000 vulnerable children and their relatives directly from refugee camps in the Middle East and north Africa, on top of the 20,000 refugees under the vulnerable persons resettlement (VPR) scheme.
More than 160 local authorities have signed up to accept refugees.More than 160 local authorities have signed up to accept refugees.