Background to the Report:
With funding from the Faith New Deal, a report was commissioned by Love Southampton into the impact of local churches on refugee support and integration in Southampton. A key feature of the report was the work of CLEAR, who have grown as a project of City Life Church Southampton over more than 20 years, and help on average over 1,000 people each year and have raised over £4 million for the purpose of supporting refugees in the city.
The report was launched on the 17th May 2024 at the University of Southampton – a copy of the report is available here – and includes commendation and endorsements from the Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Lorna Fielker – Leader of Southampton City Council, Geoff Annas – the then acting Bishop of Southampton, and Dr Krish Kandiah OBE – Director of the Sanctuary Foundation.
What people are saying:
“I am grateful to Love Southampton for representing the churches and for their long-term commitment to welcoming and supporting vulnerable new arrivals to our city…indeed, without the churches’ commitment to support asylum seekers our community would be much more impoverished” Councillor Lorna Fielker – Leader of Southampton City Council
“The pandemic was the catalyst for a dramatic surge…of cooperation between faith groups and local councils……it turned out that faith groups uniquely had the motivation and capacity to deliver help at scale to people facing hardship. They also had the contacts with people needing help and were trusted. Love Southampton has been a very good example of this kind of partnership, with an excellent working relationship between Southampton City Council and the churches and other faith groups. … Love Southampton continues to thrive, helping residents deal with the cost-of-living crisis” Rt. Hon. Sir Stephen Timms, MP – Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Faith and Society,