Refugee and Asylum Seeker Statement on behalf of the VS6 Partnership
Following the heart-breaking events we have witnessed unfold very quickly in Afghanistan over the past few weeks, VS6 partners want to take this moment to extend our support and solidarity to all those affected by the Afghanistan crisis, and to all those impacted by conflicts and disasters around the world.
Many of us cannot begin to comprehend the circumstances that cause people and families to leave their home and seek safety as asylum seekers and refugees. Innocent civilians caught up in conflicts, people living under threat of persecution, and communities displaced due to climate change are just a handful of the situations that force people to flee their villages, towns and countries. Whatever an individual’s grounds for seeking asylum and refuge, we have a responsibility as a City Region to ensure those arriving here are treated with respect and provided with the support they need to begin this new chapter of their life.
The VCFSE sector in Liverpool City Region has a proud history of supporting those in need and has consistently stepped up to provide direct support and advocacy for our refugees, asylum seekers and those with no recourse to public funds. From support in navigating the system and resettling into life in the City Region to providing emergency food packages, the VCFSE sector (particularly our grassroots refugee and asylum seeker community groups) provides a crucial role in both the emergency and long-term response.
Our VCFSE infrastructure organisations, including local Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) work in partnership with community groups to support Local Authorities to co-ordinate collaborative and effective responses for welcoming people arriving in the region, building upon existing programmes and services that support people from all over the world to resettle.
The VS6 Partnership are committed to ensuring that the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and the VCFSE organisations working to support them on the ground are understood, and will continue to work closely with the LCR Combined Authority to go beyond crisis responses and to ensure that long-term support requirements for all individuals from all countries are available.
VS6 Partners and the VCFSE sector would like to extend their welcome to all refugee and asylum seekers to the Liverpool City Region.
You can find more information on Local Authority co-ordinated support available in each area of LCR below:
Knowsley: Coming soon
Sefton: https://sefton4good.org.uk/ (Monetary donations only at the current time)
St Helens: https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/news/2021/september/16/st-helens-borough-afghan-appeal/