Cambridge is a City of Sanctuary and has been supporting displaced people since 2015. We proudly welcome people navigating their new lives in and around Cambridge.
We know Cambridge residents are very supportive of people who have left everything behind to seek safety.
Previous commitments
At the Council meeting on 22 October 2015, councillors voted unanimously for Cambridge to become a City of Sanctuary. We joined the UK-wide network of people and organisations that supports people seeking sanctuary after having to leave their homes.
At the Council meeting on 22 October 2020, councillors heard a petition asking us to extend support to enable more refugees or asylum seekers to settle in Cambridge. This included making council housing available and for us to continue welcoming more refugees.
As a result, we committed to settling 200 refugees over five years. A major part of the resettlement programme is the provision of housing. In 2021, we said we would provide four council houses each year for the next five years to reach this target.
We have successfully delivered on our previous pledge commitments. But millions more people have since been forcibly displaced.
Our current pledge
At the Housing Scrutiny Committee meeting on 11 March 2025, councillors endorsed recommendations for us to continue our commitment. They agreed to commit to five pledge points:
- Welcome refugees and asylum seekers to rebuild their lives in Cambridge and the surrounding areas through wraparound support under our resettlement programme.
- Allocate a minimum of four city council properties each year, outside of our current lettings policy, for the next five years to help deliver the pledge to resettle refugees. With a proportion of these properties provided to refugees that require secure accommodation as prescribed by central Government refugee schemes.
- Engage with the East of England Strategic Migration Partnership to identify suitable accommodation for refugees based on household needs.
- Provide advice to refugees who are homeless to explore their housing options, including the private rented sector.
- Work alongside local communities, agencies, and charities to provide services that support welcoming, cohesion, and the removal of any barriers to resettlement.
Government resettlement schemes
There are currently two resettlement schemes:
- United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), which was established in 2021
- Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), which closed to new applicants in 2025
The government funds local councils to provide support to people arriving on these schemes.
Our dedicated resettlement team works closely with local community groups and voluntary organisations to support these families. Our multilingual family support workers help families in all aspects of resettling, such as:
- applying for school places
- providing English language learning support
- finding advice and support to find employment
Supporting resettlement enables us to access the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) to buy new homes. These homes are initially used for resettlement, and can later become council homes.
People seeking asylum
People seeking asylum are not part of the resettlement schemes listed above.
Asylum seekers cannot work in the UK unless they have been waiting more than 12 months for a decision on their asylum claim. They must also have sought permission from the Home Office.
Some people seeking asylum may have family or friends they can stay with while waiting for a decision. Other people might need accommodation. The Home Office contracts Serco to provide this accommodation in Cambridgeshire.
People requiring accommodation do not get to choose where they live in the UK. Some people might be housed in flats and houses, whereas others might be housed in medium or large sites.
We commission the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum to help refugees and asylum seekers to access practical advice and support. The service includes Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) accredited staff. Find out more about support for refugees in Cambridge.
Ukraine
The government launched the Homes for Ukraine scheme in 2022. The scheme relies on local residents sponsoring Ukrainians and offering to share their homes with them. Under the scheme, hundreds of Cambridge residents have offered their spare rooms or empty homes to support Ukrainians.
We conduct accommodation and safeguarding checks before Ukrainians arrive. We support newly arrived Ukrainians to feel welcome and get to know Cambridge, and provide advice as needed.
Since March 2022, we have helped over 600 Ukrainians to settle in Cambridge. Find out more about support for Ukraine.
How you can help
You can find ways to help refugees on the GOV.UK website.
This includes information on Community Sponsorship, through which local groups can support refugee resettlement.
Unaccompanied minors and fostering
Children and young people sometimes arrive in the UK ‘unaccompanied’, meaning without a parent or guardian. When this happens, we explore fostering arrangements.
We encourage anyone who can offer support to contact the county council for more information about fostering.
- Fostering and adoption [Cambridgeshire County Council]
- Freephone 0800 052 0078
