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A safe haven for refugees

 

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A safe haven for refugees
A SAFE HAVEN FOR SYRIANS

All of us can play a part. We can send a message to local and national authorities to persuade them to resettle more Syrians, or we can volunteer to help with advocacy and the integration of refugees in our communities. Our humanity now could help save lives, inspire change in a pitiful refugee response, and be enormously life enriching for us!
Sign up to volunteer and find out more.


Or click below to call on government to give
sanctuary to the most vulnerable





have volunteered

Read messages from volunteers

Send a message to give Syrians sanctuary




Important Information

Volunteering to help resettle more refugees in your area could be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life.
Here’s some important information about what that could entail.

1. Who's getting involved?

Avaaz has partnered with Citizens UK, an alliance of community organisations, to make this project possible. Citizens UK has a refugee resettlement project in place, and our community is working with them to lobby local councils and volunteer in other ways. By signing up to volunteer you'll be given the opportunity to join that project.

2. What do we need?

We’re looking for people who can pledge to volunteer their time and energy to help in their local area should refugees be resettled there. You could help out in a number of ways:

  • Personally lobbying your local council to increase the number of refugees being resettled there
  • Welcoming newly arrived refugees and assisting with orientation
  • Providing english language support
  • Mentoring refugees to help with integration and accessing public services
  • Offering housing or hosting refugees

3. Will volunteers receive specialised training?

Yes - Through our campaign partner, Citizens UK, you will be fully trained and guided through any volunteering you do. In the event that you volunteer to lobby your council, you’ll be connected with other volunteers in your area who will support you either on the phone, through the provision of materials, or with a training session in your area.

4. What skills do volunteers need?

For volunteers to lobby their councils they need only have the passion to persuade their local politicians — Citizens UK will provide the rest you need in terms of training materials and coaching. For any other volunteering you do, you’ll be trained and guided accordingly.

5. What are the timelines?

Our most urgent need is for people to lobby their local councils. As soon as you volunteer for this role, you will be contacted by Citizens UK who will walk you through the process and get you started. Other forms of volunteering could have a longer waiting period as it depends on when refugees are finally resettled in your area. Your pledge to volunteer will be presented to local councils as evidence that people are willing to help with process of resettlement and overall viability of the project. Your pledge will only be realised if the local council agrees to resettle refugees, at which point you will be connected through Citizens UK to a local organisation co-ordinating volunteers on the ground. If you would like to volunteer before then, Citizens UK can connect you to other refugee projects that require volunteers in your area.



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