National Support Organisation July 2024 – December 2027
Community Sponsorship Ireland (CSI) was established in 2018 under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), as a complementary integration and resettlement stream, to the traditional state-centred model of resettlement.
The unique features of Community Sponsorship are the promotion of inclusivity and provision of a holistic welcome into Ireland for Programme Refugees.
Community Sponsorship Ireland empowers a group to engage locally within their own community, taking responsibility for providing a range of integration supports to an invited refugee family, along with offering a warm welcome into their new home and community here.
Who can get involved and how?
Community Sponsorship can be achieved by any group of people—ordinary individuals making an extraordinary impact on the lives of families. A Community Sponsorship group can consist of neighbors, friends, colleagues, or members of a hobby group, existing community, or sporting group.
Talk to people within your current community circle, to mobilise a compassionate group (5–12 people).
Motivations will vary, but the ability to help is simple – if you live in Ireland, you know how to live in Ireland, and can share knowledge on our systems, our sense of humour and Irish-isms!
Much of the sponsors’ feedback is extremely positive, highlighting the relationships with their sponsored families—how much they learn from them, as well as their intelligence, resilience, humility, and strength.
If you are interested in starting this meaningful journey, contact us now: info@communitysponsorship.ie
Why get involved?
There are many reasons to get involved, but most importantly, these families do not choose to leave their native countries or leave members of their families behind—they are forced to flee their homes to escape war or persecution. A welcoming smile can make a huge difference in their long and difficult resettlement journey.
Ideally, your group formation should define each member’s responsibilities and ensure that all important aspects are covered:
- Primary Sponsor
- Secondary Sponsor
- Housing Coordinator, and Property Manager
- Accounts Coordinator
- Communications Coordinator
- Language Coordinator, and Interpreter
- Fundraising Coordinator
- Educations & Employment Coordinator
- Health & Welfare Coordinator, Appointment Accompaniment, and Cultural/Social Coordinator
All Community Sponsorship Groups (CSG) will receive support, advice and training throughout the whole journey from the National Support Organisation (comprising of the experienced organisations Irish Red Cross, Irish Refugee Council, Doras and, Nasc).
Community Sponsorship Ireland provides an opportunity for the public to become directly involved in supporting a dignified resettlement period.
The National Support Organisation upholds the continuing aims:
- Enhance Ireland’s long humanitarian tradition with forcibly displaced and persecuted people
- Involve a wider set of the public, civil society organisations, and community actors in refugee protection and integration
- Maintain a human rights-based approach to protection, resettlement, and the well-being and security of refugees and Irish communities
Community Sponsorship Group Journey
The programme journey begins with team building and training, followed by fundraising and communication efforts. Then comes the settlement plan, and accommodation is secured. Finally, the focus shifts to welcoming the family and supporting their integration into the community.
- Fundraise a minimum of €10,000 for supports for the inbound family
- Source accommodation with a 2-year lease
- Complete a Settlement Plan, which details all the aspects of the resettlement process from welcome to ongoing support and integration
- Welcome and befriend a family
- Implement your Settlement Plan with the family; helping with language acquisition, education, helping them find work, helping with setting up their social protection entitlements, and social inclusion (sponsorship commitment is 18 months post family arrival)
Sponsored Refugees Journey
- Families are nominated to The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- IRPP interviews families, and they are selected on eligibility criteria and the family’s consent to partake on the programme
- Families are matched to a Community Sponsorship Group (CSG)
- Families are police vetted and undertake a medical examination prior to travel
- Families are welcomed at the airport by the Group and immediately settles into their new homes
If you are interested in starting this meaningful journey, contact us now: info@communitysponsorship.ie
Inspiring Stories of Community Sponsorship Ireland
- Dublin CSG Journey (8mins): (127) How one Irish Community transformed the future for a Syrian family – YouTube
- Wicklow CS Family’s Journey (written article): ‘A beautiful experience’: Wicklow locals welcome refugee families – The Irish Times
- Irish Communities Preparing to Welcome (written article): Communities preparing to host around 20 Syrian families (rte.ie)
- Resettling Refugees in Dublin 8 (written article): A Group of Volunteers Raise Funds to Try to Resettle Refugees in Dublin 8 | Dublin Inquirer
- Navan Group to Sponsor a Family (written article): Navan group to sponsor and welcome Syrian refugee family | Meath Chronicle
- Kells Community Sponsors Syrian Family (written article): Kells community sponsors Syrian refugee family in Ireland | Meath Chronicle
- Community support for Road to Roundwood CSG (written article: Matthews urges community to support the “Road to Roundwood” campaign – WicklowNews