Thank you to all those that have been part of this story so far. We have made great progress.

We are excited to share our news with you..

We have secured a home in East London for a family, we have raised the minimum fundraising goal and our application to the Home Office has been submitted and approved. After many months of waiting, we are now ready to go ahead with welcoming a family by the end of June.

We recognise that its still difficult for all the social activities that generated this current amazing total to happen, but we are sure that this wont hold back all our creative supporters.

The house we have secured needs improvements to make it safe and secure enough to pass the requirements of the council. We have now had to factor in appropriate technology for the family as they may still have to access a lot of services online. We have also had to slightly adjust our budget to allow for the cost of a family living in London. Due to these things, we now have a new target of £30,000.

E123 Welcomes Refugees Story

We are a community group in Tower Hamlets, East London, working to resettle a refugee family in our community, supporting them to be welcomed and settle into the community.

We are able to do this under the Community Sponsorship scheme that gives power to local volunteer groups to resettle a refugee family in their neighbourhood.

It is a big commitment, but we feel that we must help in what is being called the biggest humanitarian and refugee crisis of our time. This crisis, that has displaced over 5 million people, can seem so big that we feel powerless but that is not the case. You can help a refugee family by donating to our group or becoming a fundraiser for this campaign. We need to raise £30,000 to cover various costs like translation, updating and furnishing the house and English classes.

We also need to

Furnish an affordable home for a refugee family for a period of 2 years

Welcome the family at the airport and settle them in their new community. Helping them register for benefits, access health services and enrol children in schools.

Provide support and encouragement to the family for one year so that they can live securely and independently

Covid-19 has delayed us by a year and we have had to wait patiently for the opportunity to be made possible again. Now is the time. We hope you will be able to help us raise the remaining funds needed.

We believe that Community Sponsorship transforms the lives of both the refugee family and volunteers.

It Is a practical way for us to respond to the global refugee crisis

It provides a safe and legal route for refugees to come to the UK

It makes maximum use of the capacity, commitment and networks of local people to help refugees

It improves the chances of refugees to settle in, learn English and find work

It strengthens community bonds

It sends a strong message that refugees are welcome in the UK

If you would like to be part of the planning and resettlement work then please contact us via our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/E123WelcomesRefugees/

E123 Welcomes Refugees is formed of people connected to Stepney Salvation Army, Bethnal Green Mission Church, E1 Community Church, Victoria Park Baptist Church and the wider community