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London: Multifaith launch for Sponsor Refugees

  • JudyAnn Masters

Award winner Sean Ryan

Award winner Sean Ryan

Sponsor Refugees foundation was launched at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel on Monday 9 October 2017. This Citizens UK initiative for community sponsorship of refugees has brought together a number of organisations including: Community Sponsorship Scheme, Rural Refuge Network, TERN and Migrants Organise. Funding this new initiative is Caritas, Unbound and Volant Charitable Trust.

Last year, Home Secretary Amber Rudd introduced the concept of community-based sponsorship for refugees. Many different types of community sponsorships started to spring up around the country. Sponsor Refugees foundation will help advise and support groups who want to start the process of community sponsorship in many varied ways: finding homes, raising funds and generally helping with the challenges of settling the refugee families into their new neighbourhoods.

Refugee Welcome groups have sprung up in many parishes throughout London, including Westminster, Enfield, Redridge, Muswell Hill, and Croydon to name a few, and still more parishes in other cities around the UK. Other groups have handled the refugee needs in their parishes in a variety of ways. All have in common the desire to welcome and ease the burdens of the refugees while trying to solve all the related challenges to make that happen. "More refugees displaced by the Syrian conflict will be resettled in the UK over the coming years with the launch of Sponsor Refugees, a foundation set up by Citizens UK to boost the community sponsorship of refugees. Sponsor Refugees will advise and support faith and community groups who take on the responsibility of raising funds, finding a home and then welcoming and settling refugee families in their neighbourhoods."

The Hall was filled with 230+ people involved with refugees: from potential landlords to parishes pledging to sponsor a refugee family and all points in between. Ahmad Al-Rashid, a Syrian activist both there and here in London, officially launched Sponsor Refugees. A Syrian family prepared an outstanding delicious Syrian feast for all those present. It was truly a family contribution as the children of all ages helped to serve.

Other speakers included: Brenden Cox the founder of Jo Cox Foundation, Neil Jameson, Executive Director of Citizens UK, Dilowar Khan is the Executive Director of the East London Mosque Trust, Rabbi Danny Rich, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism and Tim Finch the Chief Executive of Sponsor Refugees. Tim said: "This has the potential to be a quiet revolution in refugee protection. It gives ordinary people a chance to transform the life of a refugee family in their own neighbourhood."

Three Pioneer Awards were given out to those who literally helped pave the way for the many refugee organisations that would follow. Accepting the first award for the People and Government of Canada was Melissa Tam from the High Commission of Canada, London. Canada has resettled over 300,000 refugees since 1979. And they are still actively accepting refugees when near by countries are closing their borders. The second award went to a CUK alliance in Cymru, Wales for its pioneering work and the third award went to Sean Ryan of St Monica's in Flixton, Manchester.

Sean Ryan, before being appointed the Caritas Community Sponsorship Of Refugees National Coordinator, has been working tirelessly with his parish in Flixton to resettle refugees. Sean shared a video of few refugees St Monica's had helped settle and integrate into their local community. When Sean spoke of his experiences, he said it was "for the meek by the meek"—very humbling and rewarding.

To the right of the stage, the liberal Judaism's community had constructed a sukkah to welcome refugees because they know what it is like to be a refugee. The traditional temporary hut had palm leaves for a roof and fruit and vegetables hanging from the rafters—gifts to refresh travellers, visitors or family. It has a lovely sentiment and ancient meaning as of welcome, friendship and hope.

The Rodolfus Choir, from the Rodolfus Foundation, provided musical enjoyment. It was an absolute treat and an excellent choice for inspiration and hope! Later in the programme, a particular favourite was the performance of 'Somewhere' from West Side Story. At the end of the evening, the entire room joined with the Choir to sing "You'll never walk alone'. The Rodolfus Choir has also pledged to do a fundraiser for Sponsor Refugees.

The evening was a wonderful celebration of the accomplishments won so far by various groups and of accomplishments to come. Major Nick Coke, Salvation Army and one of the co-chairs, aptly ended the evening with a quote from Martin Luther King: "Faith is taking the first step when you can't see the staircase."

LINKS

Sponsor Refugees: www.sponsorrefugees.org/the_story

Caritas Community Sponsorship: www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/sean-ryan-appointed-as-caritas-community-sponsorship-of-refugees-national-coordinator-676.php


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