Refugee Resettlement

Our Work
Asylum and Refugee Resettlement
Refugee Resettlement

Resettlement Schemes

Afghan Resettlement Scheme – The ARP was announced on 18 December 2024 by the Ministry of Defence and sets out the Government’s position on its approach to Afghan resettlement from 1 March 2025 until further notice. The scheme brings together the existing Afghan resettlement schemes into a single pipeline.

Existing schemes brought under ARP include:

Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme – The ACRS is a referral based resettlement scheme which prioritises vulnerable people and those who assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan.

Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy Scheme – The ARAP is for Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles and may include an offer of relocation to the UK for those deemed eligible by the Ministry of Defence and who are deemed suitable for relocation by the Home Office.

These three schemes are funded by the UK Government. Further information is available here: Afghan Resettlement Programme – GOV.UK

Community Sponsorship

The UK Community Sponsorship scheme allows community groups to support refugee families directly and aims to help them become self-sufficient and integrated members of the community.

Community Sponsorship groups are made up of local volunteers who commit to welcoming and supporting a refugee family in their neighbourhood.

Community Sponsors find a home for the family, greet them at the airport, and then work with them over a 1 year period to learn English, access education or employment, and settle into life in the community.

For more information on Community Sponsorship: Community sponsorship: guidance for prospective sponsors – GOV.UK

Community for Afghans

Similar to the Community Sponsorship scheme, this initiative enables community groups to directly support households eligible for the ARP with accommodation, self-sufficiency, and community integration.

You can find further information here: Communities for Afghans phase 2: policy document – GOV.UK

If you wish to discuss any of the Resettlement Schemes above or Community Sponsorship, please contact us:

EMC works closely with the Home Office and local authorities in the region to coordinate and match people being resettled in the UK to appropriate accommodation and integration support.