Civil society groups respond to community sponsorship commitment from Government

Pickwell Foundation volunteers and mixed groups of refugee communities visiting Exmoor, North Devon in 2025.

We welcome the Government’s commitment to give voluntary and community groups a greater role in refugee protection through named sponsorship.

Named sponsorship, where communities are empowered to identify refugees they wish to welcome to the UK, is a compassionate and controlled approach that builds cohesion and reflects our country’s proud tradition of offering sanctuary. It reduces pressure on the wider system, leads to stronger integration outcomes, and shows that communities across the UK are ready to roll up their sleeves to make welcoming refugees a reality.

We will continue to engage with the Government on the design of community sponsorship so it can support Government objectives, while empowering communities in a spirit of effective partnership. At a time when wider policy measures may create new risks for people without secure status, it is vital that credible protection routes like named sponsorship are designed with clear safeguards, strong community involvement and practical pathways for people to reach safety. We will be reaching out to civil society and community networks across the country and encourage anyone interested in playing their part in upholding our proud tradition of sanctuary to get in touch.

The Pickwell Foundation

With

Citizens UK
Refugee Council
The Community Sponsorship Alliance
Reset
The Social Justice Network 
CHARIS Refugees
CARITAS Salford 

Learn more about Refugee Sponsorship here