Newly arrived communities - Print version

We welcome you to Coventry

Coventry is a City of Peace and Reconciliation and we welcome you to our city. Being new to the city, you may want to find out about various services and support that you could access to help you settle into the city and the wider community.

These pages offer useful information to newly arrived communities including people who are seeking asylum, have been granted refugee status by the Home Office, or come into the city through other routes (such as students, overseas skilled workers or EU migrants). We also run a number of projects aimed at helping these communities, and more information can be found in this section. 

"We will always try and do what we believe is right, and we believe it is right to help others who have been forced to flee their homeland, suffering terrible hardship along the way."

Cllr Abdul Khan, Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council

Read our 2018 Migrant Needs Assessment. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5281/migrant_needs_assessment]

Welcome to Coventry app

Our 'Welcome to Coventry' web app [https://welcometocoventry.co.uk/] is available in several languages.

It provides useful information for new arrivals to Coventry. Areas include education, healthcare, employability and much more.

Its interactive map allows you to find services near you. Follow the instructions on the app to download.

Refugee Resettlement Schemes

The Syrian Vulnerable People's Resettlement Scheme was announced by the Home Secretary on 29 January 2014. It is designed to provide assistance to Syrians who have fled to neighbouring countries as a result of the current crisis and who are particularly vulnerable.

Coventry joined the scheme in July 2014, and since then we have become one of the leading cities in the UK for the resettlement of refugees.

In October 2016 Coventry joined the Vulnerable Children's Resettlement Scheme. This scheme focuses on the resettlement of vulnerable children and their immediate families from the Middle East and North Africa. This scheme is run in the same way as the Syrian VPR scheme.

In March 2021, the VPRS and VCRS have been replaced by the UKRS. The UK Resettlement Scheme has a geographical focus beyond the Middle East and North Africa region. As of October 2022, over 1000 refugees have been welcomed into the city under these schemes.

We will continue to work closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to target those in greatest need of assistance, including people requiring urgent medical treatment, survivors of violence and torture, and women and children at risk. UNHCR is uniquely placed to identify those living in formal refugee camps, informal settlements and host communities who would benefit most from resettlement to the UK.

Coventry City Council leads a partnership of organisations throughout the city, in order to deliver this programme. Our key partners are Coventry Citizens Advice [https://www.coventrycitizensadvice.org.uk/], Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre, [https://www.covrefugee.org/] St Francis of Assisi Church (Radford) [https://www.stfranciscoventry.org/], FWT - a centre for women [http://www.fwt.org.uk/] and Positive Youth Foundation [https://positiveyouthfoundation.org/].

How do the schemes work?

The UK Home Office [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office] is responsible for setting the criteria under which people are resettled into the UK and oversees the schemes. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) [https://www.unrefugees.org.uk/] submits potential cases for the Home Office to consider. Once a case has passed this initial stage, the International Organisation for Migration (IoM) [https://www.iom.int/] will conduct a full medical examination. Case files including this information are then sent to participating local authorities for consideration on the grounds of medical needs, availability of accommodation, and the potential impact on local services.

How many people will come to Coventry?

The City Council has committed to resettling 125 people per year. The schemes were due to end in 2020, however, this is no longer the case. We are still currently accepting clients due to the delays the pandemic has caused, however, going forward the scheme will change.

On 17 June 2019, the Home Secretary announced that the current format of the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) would be changing and from 2020 it would be consolidating the Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme, the Vulnerable Children's Resettlement Scheme and the Gateway Protection Programme under the umbrella of the UKRS.

The purpose of this is to resettle up to 5,000 of the world's most vulnerable refugees in the UK within the first year of the scheme; refugees who would have previously been resettled through the flagship Vulnerable Person's Resettlement Scheme.

How are the schemes funded?

Funding for resettlement schemes is provided by the Home Office.

What is the impact on housing and services in Coventry?

Home Office funding is used to secure private rented accommodation for the first year. We have not used the City Council's existing housing stock, meaning that social housing waiting lists have not been affected.

Coventry Schools will receive a grant for each child attending under the resettlement schemes. This is to aid their education and integration into the UK's school system, whilst reducing the impact on school budgets.

British Nationals Overseas (BNOs)

Hong Kong British Nationals Overseas (BNOs) status holders can apply for a new immigration route, enabling them and their dependents to come to the UK to live, work and study on a pathway to citizenship. The West Midlands Welcome Hub (WMWH) has been set up to support new arrivals from Hong Kong on the British Nationals Overseas (BNOs) visa to access information to help their integration into the UK.

You can access a range of supporting information from the WMWH [http://welcomehub.wmsmp.org.uk/].

Coventry City Council's Migration Team offers an array of support to BNOs who are due to arrive in Coventry or have recently arrived. Our support includes advice and guidance on:

• housing and services;
• accessing education;
• healthcare;
• employment;
• starting a business;
• English language support;
• accessing public funds you're eligible for;

The team also has a dedicated BNO Coordinator who provides dedicated support helping to connect new arrivals with local community/faith groups and other organisations across the city, along with providing advice and guidance on how to access services such as banking, employment, ESOL and much more.

For more information and support for BNOs arriving in the United Kingdom, check out the government's website [https://www.gov.uk/british-national-overseas-bno-visa].

If you would like to contact the Migration Team and learn more about the support they give, email migrationteam@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:migrationteam@coventry.gov.uk]

Support for Refugees and Newly Arrived Communities

Coventry has a wide range of organisations which provide support for Refugees and Newly Arrived Communities. Below is a list of organisations and services which you may find useful. Coventry City Council also has a Customer Service Centre on Broadgate Square, where advice and help can be sought on a wide range of issues including Housing Benefits, Housing, Council Tax and Social Care. More information can be found on the Customer Service Centre page. [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/customerservicecentre]

Support for Asylum Seekers

An asylum seeker is someone who comes to the UK, often fleeing persecution, torture or war, and applies for refugee status. Until refugee status is granted, such a person remains an asylum seeker and may be entitled to accommodation and support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

This support is funded by the Home Office, and in Coventry is administered at a local level by G4S. The City Council's Migration Team works with various Council Departments and West Midlands Police to ensure accommodation sourced by G4S is appropriate, and health care is provided via the Meridian Centre at the City of Coventry Health Centre.

Below are details of a wide range of organisations which provide help and support for asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants.

Support for Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers' Children (UASC)

A number of unaccompanied young people under the age of 18 years have sought asylum in Coventry. They originate from many countries including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Uganda, Somalia, Cameroon, Angola, Kosovo, and China. As a Local Authority, we have a duty under The Children Act 1989, to offer support and guidance to this group of vulnerable young people.

How we can help

Our Through Care service deals with all referrals of UASC's to Social Care.

After an assessment, we arrange for the required assistance and support to be provided. We also assist with accessing other support agencies using the services of a translator if required.

We endeavour to assist any young person we are supporting who wishes to trace their families overseas; we do this in partnership with the Red Cross.

We also assist young people we are supporting in seeking emotional support caused by severe trauma and will put them in touch with the relevant help required.

Before young people are 18 years we contact the appropriate agencies to try and ensure a smooth transfer. Once young people have reached the age of 18 years support is available from the Local Authority via The Through Care team up until the age of 25 years.

Useful information

Through Care [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/throughcare]

Migrant Help [https://www.migranthelpuk.org/pages/category/asylum]
Asylum Helpline Advice Service
Free asylum helpline: 0808 8010 503

Asylum Support Application UK
Asylum Helpline Support Application Services
Tel: 0808 8000 631

The Refugee Council [https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/]
Children Panel
Advice Line: 020 7346 1134