Liverpool City Council has offered to help the Government with its programme of housing refugees fleeing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
We have delivered our resettlement programmes since 2016, welcoming families from Syria, Eritrea and Afghanistan, which are funded by the UK Government. The numbers are relatively small, for example around 150 people from Syria have made Liverpool their home since 2016.
We commission a charity called Refugee Action to provide the resettlement support to the families for 12 months, and intend to align the Afghan resettlement programme with our existing resettlement programmes.
We have had many enquiries from people wanting to know how they can offer help and support, and have summarised answers to the most common questions below.
I have a spare room and can accommodate a refugee
Resettled refugees coming to the UK, such as from Afghanistan, are allocated their own property. However, the offer of a room is very much needed for other refugees, such as those who have recently been granted status and are waiting for more permanent accommodation, or people who have been refused asylum.
If you have a spare room available, you can host a refugee via a charity called Refugees At Home. They offer placements to refugees in the UK who need a place to live temporarily, and support placement hosts to find someone who is a right fit for them. They are looking for hosts with spare rooms in the Liverpool and the wider Merseyside area. They have a wealth of information about becoming a hosting on their website, as well as on their Facebook page.
Website: https://www.refugeesathome.org/
Apply here: https://www.refugeesathome.org/host-application/
I am interested in letting my property out
If you are a looking to let your property then you can contact Liverpool City Council’s Housing Options Service Rehousing Team, who support newly granted refugees to secure permanent accommodation. Please contact the Team by email: Housing.OptionsRe-HousingTeam@liverpool.gov.uk, particularly if you have a larger property with more than four bedrooms.
You can also contact Serco, who provide the asylum accommodation in the north west on behalf of the Home Office. They are regularly looking for homes to rent so they can house people seeking sanctuary. Their Partnership Manager in Liverpool is Ged Swanson Ged.Swanson@serco.com, he will be able to signpost you to their procurement team.
I want to volunteer to help with resettling and supporting refugees
Families that arrive in the UK on the resettlement scheme will be fully supported by a team from the resettlement organisation.
However if you are looking to volunteer with refugees and asylum seekers, the Our Liverpool team post regular volunteering opportunities, as do Merseyside Refugee Support Network and the British Red Cross.
Merseyside Refugee Support Network: https://www.facebook.com/MRSNLiverpool
British Red Cross: https://volunteer.redcross.org.uk/opportunities
I want to offer work experience and employment opportunities to refugees
If you are an employer and have employment or work experience opportunities for refugees we would be keen to link you with our Refugee Employment Officers. You can contact liverpoolinwork@liverpool.gov.uk
I want to donate clothes or money to support refugees
A list of refugee support organisations in Liverpool who take donations can be found on the council’s website.
Further information
You may wish to join the Our Liverpool Facebook group to keep up to date with Liverpool’s work with refugees or the council’s website.
You may also contact the Our Liverpool team by email at OurLiverpool@liverpool.gov.uk
Thank you for your contribution to making Liverpool a welcoming city for refugees
