Our priority is to find affordable, self-contained, long-term accommodation for people and families looking to rebuild their lives in West Sussex.
Support from the voluntary and community sector adds invaluable skills and resource to the schemes. It also increases the chances of families resettling quickly, while ensuring the schemes are more sustainable in the long run.
Volunteer groups have supported the scheme in different ways including:
- property preparation, such as painting and decorating
- family support - working with keyworkers to befriend and support families and individuals, orientating them to life in West Sussex
- English language learning sessions
- help to fund and host several activities to enable the families to resettle and integrate into West Sussex life.
Listed below are some of the several volunteer organisations and groups we work with. You can contact them about volunteering, befriending opportunities or donating clothes and toys for refugee families relocating to West Sussex.
- Worthing 4 Refugees - Creating a culture of safety, integration and justice for refugees and displaced people in the Adur and Worthing area.
- Horsham Refugee Support Group - A small charity run entirely by volunteers who work with refugees or asylum seekers in the Horsham district, linking in with WSCC and Horsham District Council.
- Refugees Welcome Crawley - A small, registered charity based in Crawley offering welcome and support to refugees, asylum seekers or other migrants who need some extra help to cope with life in a new country.
- Sanctuary in Chichester - A registered charity supported by volunteers who work with refugees and asylum seekers arriving in the Chichester area.
- Mid Sussex Voluntary Action - An independent charity working across Mid Sussex to bring together and help local voluntary organisations and community groups.
Donating money
We do not accept any donations through the council. If you wish to donate money, you may want to consider donating to one of the reputable charities currently running appeals, such as the British Red Cross.
The Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator have urged the public to ‘give safely’ to registered charities helping and supporting those affected.
Make a few simple checks before donating:
- Check the charity’s name and registration number.
- Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information.
- Be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within them.
- Contact or find out more online about the charity that you’re seeking to donate to or work with to understand how they are spending their funds.
- Look out for the Fundraising Badge on charity fundraising materials. This is the logo which shows that a charity has committed to fundraise in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice.
If you would like more information about how to help with supporting refugees in West Sussex please submit your offer by emailing: refugee.resettlement@westsussex.gov.uk.
See also: Donating to the Ukraine crisis.