If you wish to donate to our Parish Offertory Collection please click the ‘Donate’ button.
Community Sponsorship Scheme
Under the help and direction of Catholic Care the parish has committed to participate in the government’s refugee community sponsorship scheme to re-home an UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) designated refugee family at risk in their own country.
As part of the scheme, the government requires us to pledge £9000 as a safety net to help settle the family. We also need to raise a further £2000 to help Catholic Care for their role as lead sponsor; making the Home Office application and supporting us over the course of the scheme.
This page shows how we are doing and how you can help.
UPDATE
Great News! Having reached our fundraising target some time ago and after much delay, we have now got Kirklees and Home Office approval for Stage One of our application and prospectively been matched with a refugee family.
CAN YOU HELP?
We now urgently need to find the family suitable rental accommodation.
The family will need “their own front door”; a 3 bedroom unfurnished property within Kirklees for a minimum of 2 years, in an area with good transport links and close to local amenities.. If you or anyone you know can help, please contact Ruth or Anne at e-mail: ihomcommunitysponsorship@gmail.com. (please note new e-mail address)
Going Forward
We also need to start on our Stage Two application which will require in depth information about accommodation, schools, health services, locality, support with English etc.
We need your help with this too. It may be that you work within a relevant sector and can provide the information required e.g. for school or college applications, registering with a local GP or JobCentre or are/or know a landlord who can provide accommodation at the “Local Housing Allowance Rate”.
You may be someone who wants to volunteer with the family once they arrive, supporting them with learning English and navigating a new culture. The list is endless. The time commitment can be as big or small as you need it to be. Together we can achieve more and share the load.
If you want to find our more, please contact or talk to Anne or Ruth at ihomcommunitysponsorship@gmail.com or a member of the IHOM Refugee Community Sponsorship Steering Committee.
