Could your parish welcome a refugee family? Government appeals to churches for help

The Home Office has appealed to churches to help integrate refugees, as it tries to meet a target of accepting 20,000 Syrians.

The Full Community Sponsorship scheme, launched last July, allows community groups to take responsibility for a refugee’s housing and basic needs, and help them gain necessary skills.

But since the scheme was launched in July, just two groups – a parish in Greater Manchester, and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s residence – have come forward to sponsor a refugee family.

The Immigration Minister, Robert Goodwill MP, told the Catholic Herald the scheme was a response to the “wave of compassion” from the British public at the plight of Syrian refugees. The Home Office is hoping more churches and other community groups will take up the challenge.