Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Organisations
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Networks
A key aim of the Welcome Hub is to support the establishment and develop the partnership working, of networks of organisations which are currently supporting, or seeking to support, BN(O) visa holders in the North West. There are a number of networks that organisations can join or contact in order to improve the support they offer, to get information or to make a referral.
BN(O) VCFSE Network – this is a network of all organisations across the region which are supporting BN(O) visa holders in the North West, regardless of whether they have received direct funding from the Welcome Hub or Government. If you would like to get in touch with one of these organisation, or if you are supporting BN(O) visa holders in your area and want to join the network, please email [email protected]
Service Map and Directory – the RSMP holds a map and directory of services useful to migrants in the North West. You can make a direct referral to an organisation on that map, or you can also submit your organisation’s details to be added to the map, by visiting our Find Services page.
National Government Funding for Partners
National VCSE Grant Funding – the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has made available grant funding for VCFSE organisations, to deliver support to BN(O) visa holders across England. Currently these grants are for VCFSE organisations to deliver Employment Support and Mental Health and Wellbeing Support. The purpose, financial value and delivery of these grants can vary and for the most up-to-date information, you should visit the Welcome: a guide for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders in the UK page on GOV.UK.
English language provision – MHCLG has made available up to £850 per person per financial year to support BN(O) visa holders to access English language provision. This funding is claimed through councils and can be used to fund English language classes delivered through colleges, adult education services, VCSE organisations or private providers. Find out more details on our English Language page.
Destitution Funding – if you are at risk of destitution you can apply to have your No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition lifted. Our Hong Kong BN(O) Visa Information page provides more information on how the NRPF condition can be lifted. Once you submit this application, you can go to your council for support. Councils can claim up to £2,720 per BN(O) household to support you while you wait for your application to be decided. Visit our Funded support for Hong Kong BN(O) Visa holders page to learn more.
For more information on the current projects funded and for information on future funding programmes please visit the Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) welcome programme on GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Welcome Hub Funding for Partners
The Welcome Hub has directly provided funding to dozens of VCFSE organisations, advice services, councils, and other entities to support BN(O) visa holders. Previous examples of this include:
VCFSE Small Grant Programmes – grants of up to £10,000 to local, regional and national VCFSE organisations to deliver integration support to BN(O) visa holders in the region.
Summer/Mid-Autumn Events Grants Programme – grants of up to £7,500 to organisations to deliver small- and large-scale events over the summer and autumn period. The focus was to support the integration of BN(O) visa holders, as well as to celebrate Hong Kong culture.
Immigration Information and Advice Support – a grant to an immigration advice organisation to deliver information sessions on visa process, entitlements in the UK and the journey to settlement and citizenship. There was an offer of some casework support to visa holders.
Employment Advice and Support – grants of up to £50,000 to organisations to support BN(O) visa holders with employment and employability across the region.
The Welcome Hub continues to deliver grant funding programmes and commission services. For the most up-to-date information on available grant funding, please continue to monitor our website or email [email protected]. You can also use this email address to request to be included on mailing lists announcing future funding schemes.
Please note that although funding has been made available by National Government and by the Welcome Hub in the past, this is not a guarantee of funding for partners in the future. As allocated funding for the BN(O) Welcome Programme changes so will the ability for the Welcome Hub and the Government to provide funds to partners in the future.