Cotham & Redland Welcome is a Community Sponsorship group of local Bristol people, who came together with the intention of bringing hope to a refugee family. We share a desire to support a resettled Syrian family to make their home in our community – and believe that in offering our support, we also have much to receive.

We raised £12,000 to furnish and equip a house ready for the family’s arrival in Feb 2021. With training and advice from Citizens UK, we
have supported the five children to start at local schools; and made and accompanied members to health and benefits appointments. A committed team of volunteer ESOL tutors are helping them learn English. 

However, there have been challenges: the family are now receiving Universal Credit but they are still waiting to hear about discretionary housing benefit which will pay the rent. The UC they are receiving is not enough for a family of 7 to live off and the benefit cap which means they cannot get more than £20,000 in total means that we shall continue to have to help out until a member of the family can get a job. We pay an interpreter to translate at appointments and meetings, and we urgently want to fund specialist trauma counselling sessions for those with post traumatic stress disorder. The teenagers have missed years of education – they are ambitious and so keen to learn – and we hope to organise additional tuition before they start GCSE work.

Bristol is a great city, and with additional resources we hope to
introduce the family to new experiences and opportunities, to develop confidence and make choices, and to have FUN!

Your donation will help us support the family in these ways.

Thank you from us - and from them.

cothamredlandwelcome@gmail.com