CSA POSITION ON THE GOVERNMENT’S ASYLUM AND RESETTLEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
- Susannah Baker MBE
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
CSA is proud to stand with partners in welcoming the Government’s commitment to strengthen community-led protection through named sponsorship. We believe communities can and should play a meaningful role in offering sanctuary.
But CSA also has significant concerns about the broader measures announced yesterday.
The introduction of a single annual cap for all safe and legal routes — including UNHCR referrals, community sponsorship and named cases — risks restricting access for the most vulnerable. If named sponsorship reduces, rather than expands, protection, this would undermine the principle of additionally that community sponsorship is founded upon.
We are also concerned by the proposal to move resettled refugees onto a 10-year route to settlement, with repeated 30-month reviews.
A decade of uncertainty makes it harder for families to rebuild their lives, and harder for communities to sustain the commitment that successful sponsorship requires.
Security of status is not a technical detail - it is foundational to integration, stability and wellbeing.
CSA stands ready to work constructively with Government to design named sponsorship in a way that truly empowers communities.
But we will continue to advocate for a system that is fair, humane and sustainable - one that reflects the best of the UK’s tradition of offering sanctuary.
A STATEMENT - Civil society groups respond to community sponsorship commitment from Government
We welcome the Government’s commitment to give voluntary and community groups a greater role in refugee protection through named sponsorship.
Named sponsorship, where communities are empowered to identify refugees they wish to welcome to the UK, is a compassionate and controlled approach that builds cohesion and reflects our country’s proud tradition of offering sanctuary. It reduces pressure on the wider system, leads to stronger integration outcomes, and shows that communities across the UK are ready to roll up their sleeves to make welcoming refugees a reality.
We will continue to engage with the Government on the design of community sponsorship so it can support Government objectives, while empowering communities in a spirit of effective partnership. At a time when wider policy measures may create new risks for people without secure status, it is vital that credible protection routes like named sponsorship are designed with clear safeguards, strong community involvement and practical pathways for people to reach safety. We will be reaching out to civil society and community networks across the country and encourage anyone interested in playing their part in upholding our proud tradition of sanctuary to get in touch.
The Community Sponsorship Alliance
With
The Pickwell Foundation are hosting a webinar Thursday 20th at 6.30pm where you can learn more about Refugee Sponsorship and ways in which your community can get involved. Register here.
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