Community Sponsorship

Community sponsorship enables community groups to directly welcome and support a resettled family into their local community. It is designed and delivered in partnership with local communities and promotes positive resettlement outcomes, both for the resettled families and for those who support them. 

Refugees resettled through the Community Sponsorship Scheme complement those resettled to local authorities through the UKRS, underlining the critical role that communities can play in the global response to humanitarian crises. 

The training includes five core sessions and an optional one, which are listed below. In addition to these, we offer further support on a variety of topics, delivered as training or in the form of resources. See below for more information. 

All sessions are delivered live on Zoom or in person. 

Core Training Sessions 

1. Introduction Session (optional)
 An overview of the Community Sponsorship programme, including the roles and responsibilities of sponsor groups.

2. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (30 minutes)
A compulsory short training to ensure the secure handling of a family's personal information during the sponsorship journey.

3. Part 1: The Application (2 hours)
 A step-by-step guide to completing the application form to become a Community Sponsor group. 

4. Safeguarding (2hours)
 An introduction to effective safeguarding practices, with a focus on creating a safe and supportive environment for families. 

5. Pre-Arrival: The First 72 Hours (2 hours)
 Guidance on how to best support a newly arrived family during their first 72 hours in the UK and in their new home. 

6. Post-Arrival Support (2 hours)
 Covers local orientation, building community connections, and understanding ongoing responsibilities as a sponsor group. 

7. Trauma-Informed Care and Cultural Competence (2 hours)
 Introduces the principles of trauma-informed care and cultural competence to help you provide the best possible support for resettled families. 

Either the Home Office or your Principal Sponsor will refer you into this programme. If you have not been referred you will not be able to access the training. 

If you have not been referred but are interested in community sponsorship you can visit the UK Government's guidance for community sponsorship.

If you have any questions please email – CommunitySponsorshipUK@rescue.org

• Landlord Engagement Template: (An editable IRC template designed for groups to customise with their own information and outreach when engaging landlords and agents)

• Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Directory for Refugees and Migrants in London
• MHPSS Essentials for People Affected by Forced Displacement
• Mental Health in Context: Afghan Newcomers (by Switchboard)
• Supporting Youth Affected by Hate Crime Guidance
• Staying Safe Against Hate
• Mindfulness Moments Cards
• Check-In Activity Cards
• Brainstem Calming Activities

• Guidance on Initial Meet Up with Caregivers (for schools to use to improve induction procedures)
• My New School Booklet – Primary (for schools to give to primary aged children) and the Secondary School Version
• School Celebrations Letter (for schools to give to parents to find out more about their cultural and religious celebrations)
• At Home Together Tasks (for parents to use with their children – available in Ukrainian, Arabic, French and Dari)
• School Buddy Programme (3 resources for schools to use to train student buddies)
• Personal Dictionary for Students (schools should print and give these to all English language learners in school)
• I am From Poem (teachers can use this quick activity to get to know their students – it can be completed in any language and then translated afterwards)
• IRC's Guide to Collaborating with Refugee Parents

• Resource Handout - England
• Resource Handout - Wales
• Resource Handout - Scotland

• IRC's Get Job Ready Handbook: (Developed by the IRC and funded by Khalsa Aid, this handbook is intended to be used as part of broader employability support and not as a standalone resource. Sponsors can use it as a reference to guide their support for refugee families)

• Apps for Translation & Interpretation (by Switchboard): A list of translation and interpretation apps, with pros, cons, and suggested contexts for use.

• Community for Afghans (CfA) Handbook
• Community Sponsorship Handbook

Please contact CommunitysponsorshipUK@rescue.org