For Refugee Week 2020, we reflect on the work we have carried out in support of refugees and their families.

Refugee Week is the UK’s largest festival celebrating the ongoing contribution of refugees, while actively encouraging greater tolerance between diverse communities. The event also promotes understanding of why people seek sanctuary.

The event coincides with the recent government announcement of a new global resettlement scheme, which plans to resettle over 5,000 refugees in its first year, once the flagship Vulnerable Person’s Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) concludes in 2021.

The current scheme has helped close to 16,000 refugees since its inception, and the newly-announced scheme will continue with this ground-breaking work as it promises to ‘’protect thousands fleeing conflict and persecution, while giving refugees the opportunity to build a new life in the UK’’.

Family Fund Business Services (FFBS) has been working to support those refugees coming to the UK for the last few years. Previous projects include furnishing houses for North Yorkshire County Council, in association with Connect Assist, as part of the Government’s Syrian VPRS. The scheme resettled 20,000 Syrian refugees from camps in countries neighbouring Syria. FFBS continues working with their partners, including Local Authorities, on current refugee schemes, as well as looking forward to future initiatives in the pipeline.

Paul McAfee, FFBS Account Manager, said:

“Over the next year we’ll be supporting our Local Authority partners to house another 500 people from refugee backgrounds. All of the accommodation provided is clean, welcoming, and fitted with new goods. We ensure the homes are equipped with everything a family would need to live a happy and healthy life, and are proud of the work we achieve.”

A refugee who was relocated to North Yorkshire last year said:

“My family feel we are part of this community, not just refugees. Working as a volunteer with different organisations when I first arrived to the UK has meant a lot to me and I feel glad and proud I was able to do this work.” (northyorks.gov.uk)

Read more about our work providing new homes for Syrian refugees in North Yorkshire: https://www.familyfundservices.co.uk/2018/02/syrian-vulnerable-persons-resettlement-scheme/

Read more about how refugees are playing a crucial role in community wellbeing during the pandemic: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/article/refugees-take-key-roles-community-response

Read more about Refugee Week: https://refugeeweek.org.uk/