Salford: Parishioners fund full-time refugee sponsorship officer

The generosity of parishioners in the Diocese of Salford now means the lead in the Community Sponsorship of Refugees pilot by St Monica's parish has been offered a full-time position to expand the scheme to other parishes.

Sean Ryan, a parishioner at St Monica's Flixton, led a 25-strong team in welcoming the second ever Syrian family to be resettled in the UK under the Government's Community Sponsorship scheme, which allows parishes to host refugee families.

He has since been working hard to roll-out the scheme to other parishes in the North-West, as Caritas Salford was able to employ him for one day per week.

Heeding the Pope's call for each parish in Europe to take a refugee family, parishioners throughout the Diocese gave enough to a special collection in aid of
the scheme last Sunday to employ Mr Ryan full-time for a year.

Mark Wiggin, CEO of Caritas Salford, said. "Sean is a passionate advocate on how Community Sponsorship can change the lives of vulnerable refugees and the lives of local people who come forward to help. With Sean, I am confident we will increase significantly the number of parishes that come forward to be sponsors".

Parishioners from St Monica's, Flixton welcomed a young Syrian family through the Home Office's community sponsorship scheme in November. Caritas Salford is the sponsor.

Caritas Salford is the official charity of the Diocese of Salford, with projects for those suffering from poverty, disadvantage and discrimination including homeless people and refuges. More information can be found at: www.caritassalford.org.uk