Quaker project welcomes refugees to Camden
‘The family will be escaping a terrible situation in their country of origin, and we will empower them to become an asset to the local community here.'
A family fleeing from a war-torn part of the world will find a new life in Camden, thanks to a Quaker-instigated project.
Friendly Welcome – a volunteer group started by Quakers at Friends House – will settle a vulnerable refugee family into the community, with support to access education and employment. The family will be identified by the United Nations Refugee Agency and arrive in the UK through the Home Office’s Community Sponsorship scheme. Origin Housing Association will provide accommodation.
Tim Robertson, the chair of Friendly Welcome who hosted the project’s launch on 15 March at Friends House, said: ‘The family will be escaping a terrible situation in their country of origin, and we will empower them to become an asset to the local community here. Camden is such a diverse and vibrant place – there’s nowhere better for refugees to feel welcomed and to flourish.’
The Friendly Welcome scheme offers safe passage for families who are seeking safety from countries such as Afghanistan and Syria. The team – which now includes volunteers of different faiths and none – are raising funds to meet practical needs when the family first arrive, probably in autumn 2022. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/friendly-welcome-camden.
During the launch, councillor Sabrina Francis, the mayor of Camden, opened a box of Syrian Arabic sweets as a symbol of how we could share the world’s resources. Other speakers included Tim Finch, the founder of the Sponsor Refugees programme at Citizens UK, which is the lead agency for the project.
Paul Parker, recording clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting, said Friendly Welcome is ‘an excellent example of Quaker beliefs in action’.
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