Annual Review 21/22

Covering 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022, our Annual Review looks back at a time of significant opportunity for the UK Church to offer a Welcome to more new Neighbours than ever as we aim to see no refugee alone.

The arrival of over 100,000 new Neighbours from Hong Kong through the BN(O) visa scheme and 20,000 evacuees from Afghanistan arriving in the UK practically overnight in August, was followed by the urgent need to welcome refugees fleeing war in Ukraine. 

With global crises and refugee-related headlines, the supportive and encouraging response of the Church nationwide has been overwhelming.  The number of churches in the Welcome Network grew from 70 churches at the beginning of 2021 to over 900 in one year. This led to the development of our regional Church Engagement team, providing hands-on, localised training to over 1100 volunteers as they seek to provide love, care and a welcome to refugees, people seeking asylum and others who have fled their home country in search of safety and refuge.