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Our history |
Herts Welcomes Syrian Families banner
How did Herts Welcomes Refugees start?
In response to widespread public support for the UK to do more to help Syrian refugees displaced by the Syrian Civil War, in September 2015 the UK Government launched the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (SVPR) Scheme aiming to bring 20,000 Syrian refugees to the UK over a five year period (2015-2019).
With the success of the scheme being dependent on the participation and support of local councils, Herts Welcomes Syrian Families, now Herts Welcomes Refugees, was formed in the autumn of 2015 to encourage local councils to participate in the SVPR Scheme. Working collaboratively with other organisations, our efforts were successful and nine of Hertfordshire’s ten District and Borough Councils committed to receiving Syrian families through the Scheme.
By August 2016 it had become apparent that our effectiveness and ability to raise funds would be enhanced if we were formally registered with the Charity Commission and we became a Registered Charity in April 2017.
Herts Welcomes Refugees has a large network of supporters across Hertfordshire with more than 500 supporters receiving our regular updates. Many of these supporters also volunteer as befrienders or ESOL teachers and others help with social events and with donations of goods and money.
In 2019, Herts Welcomes Syrian Families changed its name to Herts Welcomes Refugees since the organisation is now helping refugees who come to Hertfordshire from all over the world.
In response to widespread public support for the UK to do more to help Syrian refugees displaced by the Syrian Civil War, in September 2015 the UK Government launched the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (SVPR) Scheme aiming to bring 20,000 Syrian refugees to the UK over a five year period (2015-2019).
With the success of the scheme being dependent on the participation and support of local councils, Herts Welcomes Syrian Families, now Herts Welcomes Refugees, was formed in the autumn of 2015 to encourage local councils to participate in the SVPR Scheme. Working collaboratively with other organisations, our efforts were successful and nine of Hertfordshire’s ten District and Borough Councils committed to receiving Syrian families through the Scheme.
By August 2016 it had become apparent that our effectiveness and ability to raise funds would be enhanced if we were formally registered with the Charity Commission and we became a Registered Charity in April 2017.
Herts Welcomes Refugees has a large network of supporters across Hertfordshire with more than 500 supporters receiving our regular updates. Many of these supporters also volunteer as befrienders or ESOL teachers and others help with social events and with donations of goods and money.
In 2019, Herts Welcomes Syrian Families changed its name to Herts Welcomes Refugees since the organisation is now helping refugees who come to Hertfordshire from all over the world.