Community Sponsorship Alliance

Susannah Baker MBE, Chair of the #CommunitySponsorshipAlliance, was featured in an article published yesterday @guardian . Alongside a Community Sponsorship volunteer and the mother of a family supported by a Bideford-based group—sponsored by @thepickwellfoundation (of which Susannah is also a trustee)—they shared reflections on being welcomed into the community and the positive impact of Community Sponsorship. Find the article in full here - /society/2026/jan/07/community-sponsors-supporting-refugees-uk?CMP=share_btn_url Learn more about the Community Sponsorship Alliance here - .uk/ #CommunityLedWelcome #CommunitySponsorship #RefugeeSponsorship #NamedMatching

Alongside partners, we have signed a joint statement welcoming the commitment to expand community-led routes through named sponsorship. However, CSA also has serious concerns about the wider reforms. The introduction of a single annual cap for all safe routes, and the shift from immediate Indefinite Leave to Remain to a 10-year temporary route with repeated reviews, create real risks for refugee families and the communities who support them. Community Sponsorship is built on stability, trust and partnership. Families cannot rebuild their lives - and communities cannot sustain long-term support - if immigration status remains uncertain for a decade. We will work constructively with Government on designing named sponsorship. But we will also continue to advocate for: • Safe routes that are genuinely additional • Clear safeguards • Long-term security • Policies that uphold the UK’s tradition of offering sanctuary Read our joint statement in full here - .uk/post/csa-position-on-the-government-s-asylum-and-resettlement-announcement #CommunityLedWelcome #TogetherWithRefugees #CommunitySponsorship

Last week we shared our new report, Expanding Safe Pathways to the UK for Sanctuary Seekers, offers a different vision - one grounded in evidence, compassion, and practicality. This framework, co-led with the Sanctuary Hub at @kings_college_london , is the result of genuine collaboration between practitioners, academics, people with lived experience, and public servants. Together, we’ve set out what safe pathways could look like if we removed unnecessary barriers and committed to building something sustainable for the long term. Read the KCL official press release here - /news/new-framework-aims-to-improve-uk-approach-to-forced-migration Watch the online panel, held to explore the frameworks key recommendations, potential challenges, and its relevance to UK and international policy contexts - /research/sanctuary-pathways Links also in stories and available via our website. #SafePathways #RefugeesWelcome #CommunitySponsorship

Expanding Safe Pathways to the UK for Sanctuary Seekers Too often, people forced to flee their homes are met with hostility or indifference. But our new report, Expanding Safe Pathways to the UK for Sanctuary Seekers, offers a different vision - one grounded in evidence, compassion, and practicality. It recognises something we see every day in the Community Sponsorship Alliance: when communities are trusted and equipped to lead, lives are transformed - both for those seeking sanctuary and for those who welcome them. This framework, co-led with the Sanctuary Hub at @kings_college_london is the result of genuine collaboration between practitioners, academics, people with lived experience, and public servants. Together, we’ve set out what safe pathways could look like if we removed unnecessary barriers and committed to building something sustainable for the long term. The urgency is real. People are waiting. Communities are ready. This report shows how we can meet one another in that place - and build something better, together. Read the report here - .uk/post/expanding-safe-pathways-to-the-uk-for-sanctuary-seekers #SafePathways #RefugeesWelcome #CommunitySponsorship #MigrationPolicy #BetterTogether

At the Community Sponsorship Alliance, we believe in the power of people to welcome. That’s why we want to highlight and welcome Paragraph 160 of the newly released White Paper on Restoring Control Over the Immigration System. “Sponsorship, both through the Community Sponsorship and the Homes for Ukraine schemes, puts power into the hands of local communities, fostering community-led and controlled resettlement... We will consider the effectiveness of sponsorship arrangements in the UK to ensure that there is a clear sponsorship framework in which businesses, universities, and community groups are involved in sustainable ways of sponsoring refugees to live, work and study in the UK.” This recognition of sponsorship as a vital tool for resettlement - one that places trust in communities - is long overdue, and we’re encouraged by the government’s stated intention to review and strengthen sponsorship models. It signals potential for growth, innovation, and broader participation in resettling those in need of protection. But we cannot post this without acknowledging the deep pain and fear that many in the migrant and refugee community will be experiencing as they read this White Paper. For many, this document represents a hardening of borders, increased precarity, and fewer safe routes. As a sector rooted in compassion and solidarity, we hold that reality alongside any policy progress. Sponsorship alone cannot carry the weight of a broken system - but it can be a powerful part of something better, and with the policy changes that we recommend, has the potential for huge growth, bringing in many more actors to be a part of the welcoming story. As a coalition of organisations who have championed this model for nearly a decade, we remain committed to working with government and civil society to ensure that refugee sponsorship in the UK is accessible, sustainable, and rooted in dignity. * Read the full White Paper here: /media/6821aec3f16c0654b19060ac/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper.pdf #RefugeeSponsorship #CommunityLedWelcome #RefugeesWelcome #MigrationMatters #UKPolicy #CommunitySponsorship

Last week, some of our CSA members had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative (@the_grsi ) annual gathering held in Lisbon this year. It was a dynamic event, bringing together passionate individuals dedicated to the Community Sponsorship model for refugee welcome. With 23 countries now actively involved in Community Sponsorship, it's inspiring to see the global impact of a model that originated in Canada. The UK, as the second country to adopt this transformative approach in 2016, has played a pivotal role in its worldwide expansion. As Susannah Baker MBE, Co-Chair of the Community Sponsorship Alliance, described, "It is a privilege to catch up with friends, old and new, and to be involved in the ongoing conversations of how Community Sponsorship is growing and developing in different contexts around the world." The sessions were thought-provoking, covering crucial topics such as 'changing the narrative'—particularly relevant given recent political events. We gained valuable insights from More in Common's latest studies, engaged in discussions on 'naming' pathways, explored Labour pathways, and emphasised the significance of monitoring and evaluation of programmes. One of the highlights was the collective commitment to driving and advocating for greater diversity in sponsorship. The discussions highlighted the power of collaboration between voluntary community groups and the government, emphasising the need for a cohesive partnership. Our team left Lisbon energised and motivated, ready to contribute to the continued success and growth of Community Sponsorship. As we reflect on the experience, we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of a global movement that is making a positive impact on the lives of refugees worldwide. 📸 Photo: GRSI/Barialia Khoshal.

It was so good to see Barbara Keeley, Labour Member of Parliament for Worsley & Eccles South, supporting safe routes for people seeking sanctuary, at our House of Commons event in September. We are calling on all MPs to help us expand Community Sponsorship into their constituencies and to encourage community groups to get in contact with us about sponsoring a refugee family or individual, empowering them to rebuild their lives in safety and become a vital part of a new community. For information about becoming a Community Sponsorship group, please visit @resetukorg 's website (link also in our stories). #CommunitySponsorship #SafeAndLegalRoutes #CommunitySponsorshipAlliance

Today we are sharing our appreciation of Lord Alf Dubs, Baron Dubs a Champion of Compassion. Lord Alf Dubs, a true beacon of hope and compassion, has dedicated his life to making the world a better place. His tireless work for refugees and vulnerable children is nothing short of inspirational. Protecting Vulnerable Children: Lord Dubs played a pivotal role in the "Dubs Amendment" to the UK Immigration Act 2016, which secured safe passage for unaccompanied child refugees from Europe. A Lifelong Advocate: His commitment to humanitarian causes knows no bounds. He's been a vocal advocate for the rights of refugees and the importance of showing kindness to those in need. Knowing what it is like to be a child refugee himself. Global Impact: Lord Alf Dubs' work extends beyond borders, sending a powerful message of solidarity and empathy to the world. Personal Impact: We have met Lord Dubs a few times now, but the first time was at an event when we shared with him the urgent need to bring a Syrian family here to the UK. Lord Dubs wrote letters on our behalf to the then home secretary Caroline Noakes MP and really supported us in our fight. We got there eventually, and as we see the children go off to school and the family happily settled, we owe our thanks to Lord Dubs who did what he could to help when we were starting to despair. #CommunitySponsorshipAlliance #CommunitySponsorship #TogetherWithRefugees

Today, we express our deep appreciation to Claire Hanna, Member of Parliament for South Belfast and a distinguished member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in Northern Ireland. Claire Hanna MP made a significant impact by being among the first six members to sign and support the Early Day Motion on October 28th, 2021. This motion recognises that 'community sponsorship creates a warmer welcome for refugees and contributes to more inclusive communities than other routes.' Additionally, it highlights the pressing issue of extensive delays in processing community sponsorship applications and calls on the government to allocate the necessary funding and resources to expedite the administration of this successful scheme (UK Parliament, 2023). We were delighted to have Claire Hanna MP in attendance at our House of Commons event last month. It provided us with a valuable opportunity to share our vision for the expansion of Community Sponsorship and the establishment of safe routes to safe homes in safe communities for those seeking sanctuary. #CommunitySponsorship #CommunitySponsorshipAlliance

One month after our inspiring House of Commons event, we are gearing up for a week filled with waves of appreciation. Join us as we extend our thanks to dedicated colleagues within our sector and a group of MPs who share our unwavering vision for Community Sponsorship. Special thanks to @resetukorg We'd like to shine a spotlight on the incredible @resetukorg team, who attended our event last month. Their mission? To empower volunteers, like YOU, to warmly welcome refugees into communities all across the UK. @resetukorg 's dedication and hard work have played a pivotal role in the resounding success of Community Sponsorship in the UK. Their efforts are a testament to the power of community-led initiatives that make a positive impact. Curious to learn more about how @resetukorg equips volunteers for this transformative journey of community-driven welcome? See the link in stories to explore their invaluable work and discover how you can get involved. Let's continue to stand together building safe routes to safe homes in safe communities for people seeking sanctuary. #CommunitySponsorship #safeandlegalroutes #ResetCommunitiesandRefugees #communitysponsorshipalliance