Refugee resettlement

The UK has an ongoing commitment to refugee resettlement, offering places of safety to vulnerable refugees in need of protection. 

The Home Office works with local authorities, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to deliver a range of resettlement schemes to provide support to refugees from Syria, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Afghanistan and most recently Ukraine. 

Lambeth has played its part in welcoming refugees since 2016 and we continue to pledge our support to the following resettlement schemes.

Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS)  

The VPRS was launched in January 2014 and has helped those in greatest need, including people requiring urgent medical treatment, survivors of violence and torture, and women and children at risk.

The scheme ended for new referrals on March 2021 after meeting its target of resettling 20,000 vulnerable refugees.

The UK will continue to offer a direct, safe and legal route to the UK for refugees in need of protection under the new UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship Scheme and Mandate Resettlement Scheme.

Vulnerable Children's Resettlement Schemes (VCRS)

The VCRS was launched in 2016, with the aim of resettling at-risk refugee children from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including their families.

The VCRS was in addition to the commitment to resettle 20,000 refugees under the VPRS. 

The scheme come to an end in March 2021, with the final number of refugees having found safety under the scheme at 1,838. 

Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)

ARAP offers support and relocation to those who served alongside our armed forces in Afghanistan. This is primarily offered to those who are employed directly, or in certain special cases via contractors, and are assessed to be at serious risk as a result of such work.

Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) 

ACRS priorities those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights and freedom of speech, the rule of law, and supporting vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk and members of minority groups at risk 

This scheme will resettle up to 20,000 people at risk. 

Supporting documents

Download welcome pack for resettled families in English (PDF 1.02MB)

Download welcome pack for resettled families in Pashto (PDF 793KB)

Download welcome pack for resettled families in Dari (PDF 678KB)