Borough of Sanctuary Grant Scheme

We are committed to welcoming sanctuary seekers and ensuring that they feel safe and have access to opportunities and the support to thrive.

The voluntary and community sector plays a key part in helping to deliver this welcoming environment for those building new lives in the borough. For this reason, we have created a new Borough of Sanctuary Grant Scheme to support groups and projects that will work with refugees and asylum seekers.

Grants

The Borough of Sanctuary Grant Scheme provides grants of up to £10,000 to undertake activities for six to twelve months.

Larger grants and longer projects may be considered in exceptional circumstances where a clear need and sustainable proposal can be demonstrated.

Priorities

The fund has four priorities it will support projects under:

1. Education, employment and training: Emphasising the need to equip refugees and asylum seekers with the skills necessary to access opportunities and thrive in their new home
2. Wellbeing: Supporting activities which promote refugees and asylum seeker’s wellbeing
3. Advocacy and advice: Emphasising the need to support refugees and asylum seekers to navigate systems in the UK
4. Celebrating Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Projects which promote the contribution that refugees and asylum seekers make to the borough

Further details on these themes and other aspects of the application process are included in the fund guidance notes.

Applying for funding

You may apply for funding at any point during the year for informal feedback from the Refugee Services Team.

Application dates

Round one opens to applications on Monday 28 October 2024 and closes on Sunday 19 January 2025.

Decisions and funding will be released in February 2025. We are unable to provide funding prior to January 2025.

How to apply

To apply:

1. Read the fund guidance notes
2. Complete the fund application form

Contact

Any questions about the application process can be sent to boroughofsanctuary@richmond.gov.uk.