Coordination of Volunteers to Support Refugees

The overall aim of this commission is to co-ordinate the support being offered by members of the community in B&NES to various cohorts of refugees. Since the government Homes For Ukraine sponsorship scheme opened in the Spring 2022, more than 380 Ukrainian guests have arrived and been accommodated in host homes in the B&NES area. As well as hosts offering accommodation, other B&NES residents have also stepped forward as they wish to help and support in different ways. As well as arrivals from Ukraine, there are also arrivals under the Afghan and UK Resettlement Schemes who may also benefit from some volunteer support. The council is looking for a provider to co-ordinate and support volunteers who wish to help, and ensure that the help they are offering is appropriate and accessible. It will also be important to ensure that the volunteer offer complements the core services being provided to refugees and displaced communities by the council's Resettlement Team, other council teams and other organisations. Following a previous failed procurement, the contract has been awarded to the second placed bidder from the previous tender process.