Communities for Afghans Scheme - phase 2
Communities for Afghans phase 2 aims to accommodate 500 Afghan families (approximately 2,750 individuals) on the Afghan Resettlement Programmes by the end of March 2031. The aim is to provide households with the tools that they need to integrate into society and promote cohesion between families and their local communities so that they can participate fully in UK life.
- Opening date:
- Closing date: (Midnight)
Contents
Summary
We are inviting applications for this grant with the aim of partnering with one or more Voluntary and Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE) Principal Sponsors to lead phase 2 of the Communities for Afghans scheme. We will retain flexibility on this, depending on the bid and geographical coverage of those we receive. The Principal Sponsors would have primary responsibility for recruitment, and support of Sponsor Groups.
Principal Sponsors will recruit ’Sponsor Groups’ who support a resettled Afghan household by sourcing accommodation for a period of three-years and providing integration support. The accommodation should meet local authority standards and be appropriate for the household. Sponsor Groups should support households with integration into society and local orientation. Most responsibilities and non-statutory duties for the scheme will be devolved to civil society.
We expect Principal Sponsors to recruit and support Sponsor Groups through the scheme, by making sure they have appropriate training. Their role will also be to match Sponsor Groups and resettled families and provide specialist support as required, for example mental health provision.
Eligibility
Organisations must be aligned with the Voluntary and Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE), registered in the UK. The organisation must be established for charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes (see ‘Who can apply – in detail’ section of the prospectus). They must also:
have a governing body with at least 3 members
have a governing document they can produce
have capacity to deliver an expected minimum of 125 sponsorship arrangements
Charity - A registered charity with a UK charity number
Community group - A group which meets all the following criteria:
Established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes
Has a governing body with at least three members
Has a governing document which they are able to produce
Can provide accounts for the last two financial years
Community Interest Company - A special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders.
Social enterprise - A business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.
Consortium - A group of applicants, with a designated lead partner to manage the programme, and a system for dividing the work and funds appropriately and effectively. The lead partner must be a charity or a community group with a charitable purpose.
Organisations must be based in the United Kingdom and provide an offer that can cover England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Objectives
The department will partner with up to four lead Principal Sponsors who will have primary responsibility for recruitment, of and support to Sponsor Groups (consortia of more than four organisations are eligible, but we do not intend to partner with more than four consortiums).
Principal Sponsors to deliver a service through Sponsor Groups to provide accommodation and support for Afghans who have arrived through a government resettlement route so that they can settle in the UK successfully
Principal Sponsors can work directly with Sponsor Groups and/or partner with other organisations such as veterans' charities and faith groups to expand capacity. In either case Principal Sponsors retain ultimate responsibility as part of the Grant Funding Agreement
We would also consider applications from a consortium of organisations, as long as appropriate agreements are in place and one organisation is identified as the lead recipient for the Grant Funding Agreement
Dates
Applications open: 17 March 2025
Deadline for applications: 10 April 2025
Funding awarded: 3 June 2025
How to apply
Further details of the scheme can be found in the Communities for Afghans phase 2: prospectus.