This page relates to previous resettlement work in Cornwall, carried out before the Council's Resettlement Service was formed.
Syrian Vulnerable Person Scheme
In December 2015, Cornwall made a formal offer to the Home Office to resettle Syrian families travelling to the UK and arriving under the Government’s Syrian Vulnerable Person Scheme. We offered to provide resettlement, as part of a five-year programme.
We resettled a number of families into our communities. They were flown directly from the countries bordering Syria to England and received:
- a full medical check-up
- security vetting
before they arrived in the country.
The families that came to Cornwall were met by representatives of the Cornwall Refugee Partnership and taken to their homes.
How the arrangements for resettling Syrian refugees are funded
The first 12 months of a Syrian refugee's resettlement costs were fully funded by Central Government using the overseas aid budget. Funding continued to be provided through central government from the point of arrival until year five of resettlement.
No Council funding was used in the service delivery of the refugee scheme.
Partnership approach
Joint working with:
- Home Office and
- South West Migration Partnership
was important to determine what part Cornwall can play.
A multi-agency partnership approach was taken. Set up by the Council and supported by the Home Office. Working together to support Syrian refugee families resettle in Cornwall.
The partnership mapped availability of:
- school places
- primary care services
- English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
- religious support
- private sector rented accommodation
As part of our ongoing commitment to the scheme, and in partnership with;
- early years
- primary schools
- and secondary schools
we have supported children within the scheme and coproduced these two resources.
- Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme Guidance For Primary Schools
- Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme Guidance For Secondary Schools
Please take a look at our short films below:
Serena Collins, Strategic Lead Resettlement and Migration, (Previously Commissioning Manager, Together for Families)
Community Sponsorship - Falmouth and Penryn welcome refugee families
Launceston Community Sponsorship Group
Ahmad, a young refugee
Waleed, Previously, Refugee Coordinator, Together for Families