Posted on by Sid

NEW FUND: Borough of Sanctuary Grants & Info Sessions

Just announced, this new grant scheme open to support sanctuary seekers in the borough.

The Scheme provides grants of up to £10,000 to undertake activities for six to twelve months to support sanctuary seekers in the borough. This could either be launching a new project or expanding an existing project or service.

There are four priority areas for the scheme:

  • Education, employment and training
  • Wellbeing
  • Advocacy and advice
  • Celebrating Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Larger grants and longer projects may be considered in exceptional circumstances where a clear need and sustainable proposal can be demonstrated.

The definition of Sanctuary Seekers is taken to include:

  • those seeking asylum and those who have recently received refugee status in the UK
  • unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
  • those on Government resettlement schemes including the Afghan programmes (ARAP/ACRS), Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, and UK Resettlement Scheme
  • those on the Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family, or Ukraine Extension scheme
  • people with No Recourse to Public Funds.

This is not an exhaustive list, and initiatives that work with other groups which may reasonably be considered as sanctuary seekers may be considered.

Two online Meet the Funder sessions are being held for interested organisations to learn about the scheme, as below – click on a date to register a place:

Applications will close on Sunday 19 January 2025.

Decisions and funding will be released in February 2025.

Questions about the application process can be sent to boroughofsanctuary@richmond.gov.uk.

For full details and to apply, visit Richmond Council’s Borough of Sanctuary Grant Scheme webpage.