COMMUNITY groups that support refugees and their integration can now apply for thousands of pounds worth of funding.

Relaunching under St Helens Council's 'CommUnity Grants Scheme', grants under £10,000 are available to groups and charities that contribute to the integration of refugees and their families who are rebuilding their lives in St Helens.

The scheme will support those who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries, and will prioritise projects that can help promote English language learning, improve health and wellbeing, and celebrate cultural diversity and cohesion in our communities.   

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St Helens Star: Cafe Laziz has brought people together by sharing meals from their cultureCafe Laziz has brought people together by sharing meals from their culture (Image: St Helens Star)
The grant scheme has previously helped unique and vital organisations such as Café Laziz, which encourages refugees and asylum seekers to share meals from their culture as a way to integrate into society and improve their English skills.

With the cafe also offering St Helens folk a taste of something different, the volunteers' confidence is said to have gone through the roof since getting involved in the project.

Our Warm Welcome is another project which has supported refugees and asylum seekers with interactive activities and sports games.

St Helens Star: 'Our Warm Welcome' was also a project to integrate refugees'Our Warm Welcome' was also a project to integrate refugees (Image: St Helens Star)
Speaking about the funding project, Councillor Mancyia Uddin, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “Our borough has provided a home for many people seeking safety for themselves and their families, but it is our communities that make resettlement possible.

"We have many incredible groups and volunteers doing great work in the community helping displaced people to find a safe and welcoming home.

“If your group or organisation is providing this kind of vital support to those in the greatest need or is able to do so, please get in touch – we’d love to support you!”

St Helens Star: Director of Communities Tanya Wilcock, Cllr Mancyia Uddin and Mayor of St Helens Borough Cllr Lynn ClarkeDirector of Communities Tanya Wilcock, Cllr Mancyia Uddin and Mayor of St Helens Borough Cllr Lynn Clarke (Image: St Helens Star)
To enquire about CommUnity Grants Scheme funding, you can email michaelmelia@sthelens.gov.uk