Hong Kong BN(O) funded support for Councils
Contents
Overview of Government Funded Welcome Programme
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is leading the delivery of a funded national ‘Welcome Programme’ to support those on the BN(O) route and their families to successfully settle in their new communities.
The Welcome Programme has the following elements:
- demand-led funding for local authorities in England to support BN(O) status holders and their families with English language and destitution support.
- an online Welcome: a guide for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders in the UK on GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), providing all those on the BN(O) route with information on how to access services and understand life in the UK, with similar resources specifically for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- a network of 12 Welcome Hubs across the UK to prepare for the arrival of those on the BN(O) route, established using the existing infrastructure of the Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs). More information on the details of the SMPs is available on our About us – NW RSMP page.
- national and regional voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) grant programmes to support integration.
- funding to deliver a reporting and support service for those on the BN(O) route and all other East and Southeast Asian communities in the UK who experience racism or any forms of hate.
For more information on the Welcome Programme please see the Visa Guidance page.
Demand-led Funding for Local Authorities
There are two demand-led funded elements of the Welcome Programme which councils are responsible for claiming from:
- English Language Provision
- Destitution Support
More information on the funding, what it can be used for, and how to claim it can be found on the Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) Welcome Programme – information for local authorities on GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
English Language Provision
Up to £850 per person is available to councils to support BN(O) visa holders access to English Language provision. This funding is available each financial year, meaning BN(O) visa holders can use the funding to progress through English Language levels.
The funding must be used for the sole purpose of supporting BN(O) visa holders to access English Language provision, however there is no strict guidance around the type of English language support it can fund. As the English language ability of BN(O) visa holders can vary greatly, the funding allows local authorities the flexibility to support, commission or deliver a wide range of English language classes. This could include delivering through colleges, adult education centres, private providers and the VCFSE sector.
The funding may also be used to support BN(O) visa holder learners with childcare or digital access if required.
Destitution Support
BN(O) visa holders have no recourse to public funds (NRPF), meaning they cannot claim most mainstream benefits or housing support. However, if a BN(O) visa holder is destitute or at imminent risk of destitution then they can apply to have their NRPF conditions lifted.
Once this application has been submitted, councils can begin to support BN(O) visa holders. Up to £2,720 is available to support BN(O) households that experience, or are at risk of, destitution and who have submitted an application to change their NRPF conditions.
It will be for each council to decide what assistance can be provided to BN(O) status holders and their families, based upon an individual assessment of a person or household’s status, circumstances, and support needs. Where a council considers that assistance is appropriate, the council should satisfy itself that support provided is within the law.
Who can claim the funding & How the funding is claimed
Funding can be claimed by county councils, unitary authorities, combined authorities, and metropolitan boroughs. Where lower tier councils are providing some elements of the support, they will need to agree arrangements for claiming the funding with the relevant upper tier council.
Funding will be claimed and allocated on a quarterly basis, with claims for funding submitted through the Government’s DELTA system. This means councils may have to pay up-front for some services or support.
Claims for English language provision should, where possible, be made in the quarter that the learner completes their course.
Claims for Destitution support should, where possible, be made in the quarter that the council support ended (i.e. when the BN(O) household began receiving benefits) or where the maximum limit of £2,720 has been reached.
Please see Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) Welcome Programme – information for local authorities on GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more information.
Or please get in touch with the Welcome Hub via email [email protected]