On Sunday, as he accepted a Bafta for I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach said his film told the truth about a callous Britain. “The most vulnerable and poorest are treated by the Government with a callous brutality that is disgraceful,” he said, “a brutality that extends to keeping out refugee children we promised to help, and that’s a disgrace too.”
A cause can be a worthy one even if it is supported by millionaire film directors. And Loach’s comments were only the most high-profile example of the widespread anger at the Government’s U-turn on accepting refugee children. Cardinal Nichols has described it as “shocking”. Lord Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, used the same word in a Guardian article.
It is only fair to hear the Government’s defence. It says that there has been no U-turn, but rather a prudent response to circumstances. Last year, the Labour peer Lord Dubs moved an amendment to the Immigration Bill, which bound the government to give sanctuary to child refugees.
At the time, Lord Dubs suggested a figure of 3,000. The Government now says that it will take 350 and then stop. It claims that ministers never officially committed themselves to a figure, which is just about true. But it was generally understood that 3,000 was the target, and ministers quoted the figure in both official and private communications.
The Government says that local authorities do not have the capacity to take any more child refugees. Baroness Williams, a Home Office minister, told the Lords: “If local authorities or community sponsorship groups were to come forward, we would certainly consider that.” She said local authorities are willing to receive 400 children. “We have revised it down to 350 because, if some of the family cases break down, the children will need local authority care and we need some capacity to provide it. Our consultation with local authorities is ongoing.”
In his statement, Cardinal Nichols said he has been told that local authorities are indeed able to take more children. The Government claims that it has consulted with local authorities, but the charity Help Refugees says the consultation was inadequate. It is planning a legal challenge, which will be heard in May.
Amid the heated debate, however, there is one major scheme to link concerned members of the British public with newly arrived refugees. It has received little response so far, but that could soon change.
Under the Community Sponsorship Scheme, launched in July, a community group – such as a parish, or indeed two parishes working together – can take responsibility for helping a refugee family begin life in Britain. They arrange housing, and help to provide language lessons, training and basic goods. After a maximum of two years, they let the family stand on their own feet.
This scheme would seem to meet the widespread desire to “do something” for refugees. It’s strange, then, that in eight months just two groups have come forward. One is led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is housing a refugee family in Lambeth Palace. The other is the Catholic parish of St Monica’s in Flixton, Greater Manchester.
Bishops including Cardinal Nichols hope the parish will be a model for the nationwide expansion of the scheme.
Sean Ryan led the St Monica’s team. He says it has been immensely rewarding for the entire parish to support a refugee family. The Syrian family of five (three children, all under 10) arrived in late November. They are, Ryan says, “heartmeltingly delightful”. Already the children are doing well in school, and the dad has not only found work as a chef, but also volunteers as resident chef at a Manchester night shelter.
Next month Ryan will take up a full-time post with Caritas Salford, in which he will help other groups to sponsor refugees. He has also spoken to leaders in Westminster diocese, and has had interest from the dioceses of Shrewsbury, Lancaster and Liverpool.
There are several checks and balances. The group must write a detailed plan explaining how they will support the family, and to show that they can potentially draw on up to £9,000. But it doesn’t need all that many people, Ryan says, and as for money, the actual cost will often be closer to £5,000 over two years. In any case, he says, local charities and diocesan funds can help.
It is, Ryan points out, not just a way of helping the vulnerable. “People will be more robust and proud of their faith and their community,” he says. “It is a wonderful blessing.”
To get involved, go to www.gov.uk/ government/publications/apply-for-full-community-sponsorship
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