Synagogues and Jewish charities are being called upon to house refugee families as part of a scheme launched by the Home Secretary and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill said the community’s history and experience during the Second World War made them “one of the best placed groups” to support and resettle Syrian refugees in the UK.
The MP for Scarborough and Whitby said he had been impressed with the community’s response to the refugee crisis to date, but urged members to go a step further and register their interest in the scheme, which launched six months ago.
“So far we are not aware of any groups or synagogues who have signed up to sponsor a family through the scheme,” he said.
“We have had a couple of churches sign up be we are keen to involve as many faith groups as possible.”
Sponsoring organisations must have status as either a registered charity or community interest company, and have the support of their local authority, in order to apply.
Mr Goodwill said: “We want to harness the compassion and outpouring of support we saw from the Jewish community last year.”
Synagogues or community groups “would be responsible for the family and able to provide housing, help with English lessons, and help integrate them into society,” he said.
He said those who were welcomed into the UK through the Kindertransport, or those who had family who were helped, “would be able to relate to the refugees better than anyone”.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, welcomed a refugee family into Lambeth Palace under the scheme last year.
"It is an enormous privilege to welcome a family to live in a cottage in the grounds of Lambeth Palace,” he said.
“I am hugely grateful to the Home Office and Lambeth Council for their tireless work and support in enabling this to happen.”
Families helped through the sponsorship scheme will come from the 20,000 refugees from Syria the Government has committed to helping over the next five years.
Any individuals or organisations that would like to offer support to the scheme are asked to register their interest here.
Mr Goodwill has since clarified his remarks.
