The capacity building workshop on mobilization of volunteer sponsor groups and expectation management is co-organised by ICMC Europe/Share network and its partner Citizens UK, within the framework of Share’s Quality Sponsorship Network (QSN) programme. Coordinated by ICMC Europe, Share QSN supports pilot and ad-hoc sponsorship initiatives to develop into sustainable, community-driven programmes. One of the main objectives of Share QSN is to support the growth and sustainability of community sponsorship by widening the engagement of non-traditional actors, such as the private sector, diaspora and migrant communities, higher education institutions, and local and regional authorities.
It is inspiring to see new Community Sponsorship schemes growing across the world – from UK to USA, Ireland to Italy. Each country has unique differences – but also many similarities in each scheme. Core to each programme are the intermediary organisations that mobilize grassroots communities, build their capacity and support them to welcome refugees. Wherever we are in the world, these organisations are facing many similar challenges – but have also many years of experience and have developed many great resources and solutions.
The workshop will bring together people who are delivering Community Sponsorship schemes across Europe to share common challenges and solutions. We want to bring together these organisations to share best practice and good ideas, so that we can learn from each other, and not “reinvent the wheel”.
There will be short presentations, with plenty of time for questions and discussion. The workshop will focus on two areas:
How can we grow Community Sponsorship?
How can we establish programmes with Experts by Experience to manage expectations and improve support for newcomers and volunteers?
We will also be launching our online resource bank – a free platform that shares useful resources, case studies and best practice from Europe and Canada. The website has been created to share useful resources, case studies and ideas from across the globe in addressing some of the key challenges identified:
How to engage more and diverse groups of volunteers
How to manage expectations and boundaries
How to meaningfully engage refugees in design and delivery
How to grow Community Sponsorship
As well as sharing these resources online, we are running zoom workshops on these topics. The first one will be held on 16th November 2022 to create a space for intermediary organisations to come together to share these inspiring solutions and ask questions.
This workshop is open to all people who are delivering Community Sponsorship schemes. There will be English and French translation. Please inform us ASAP if you require translation in another language and we will try to accommodate if possible.
A second zoom workshop will be held in early 2023 and will be aimed at volunteers who are part of Community Sponsorship groups.
If you are interested in participating, please register here.
