Welcome for Newcomers FAQs

By newcomers to the UK we mean refugees, people seeking asylum and other migrants including people with no recourse to public funds and unaccompanied minors.

The fund seeks to address the long-term underfunding of Welcome and integration work. It is focused on strengthening the community-based infrastructure which promotes local provision, acceptance and support for Welcome. Funding cuts and toxic discourse have made it more challenging than ever to provide comprehensive support. Newcomers face not only systemic barriers, but also physical and social barriers to connection, recovery and belonging. We believe this fund is timely as there are tentative signs that the UK government may be more open to some aspects of Welcome. In March 2026, it promised the first ‘migrant integration strategy’ for two decades.

We are not prescriptive about outcomes or impacts. We are interested in how you think about, record and learn from the changes you see. Based on our research, we anticipate outcomes might include:  

For people accessing Welcome support:  

• Enhanced feelings of safety, confidence, wellbeing and belonging 

• Improved access to essential needs, rights, entitlements, services  

• Progress towards life ambitions – e.g. in education/employment  

• More connections, friendships and participation in the local community 

For grant holders: 

• Strengthened organisational stability, resilience and capacity to plan 

• Strengthened capacity to make local connections and collaborate  

• Strengthened capacity to influence locally and advocate for Welcome 

At a local systems level, we will be looking for strengthened Welcome networks as well as changes in policies, practices and attitudes that enhance the conditions for Welcome.

New research on Welcome that we commissioned, alongside other evidence from the sector, highlights the value of safe, readily accessible physical spaces. These are reliable entry points to local support systems. They also enable people to build connections and friendships, helping them develop trust, reduce isolation and participate in community life.  

Applicants must have ongoing, long-term access to safe, accessible physical spaces where their Welcome work is delivered. This is likely to be a building or similar permanent premises that you own, rent or have formal permission to use.

We are not prescriptive about the size of area you cover, although we anticipate that the organisations and partnerships we fund will be established local hubs of support that have a well-defined role in the local ‘ecosystem’ of Welcome, for example providing Welcome across a city, town, district or region. We expect they will be able to support a sizeable, diverse community of newcomers with a variety of needs and we are interested in how you support the needs of different groups of people. We understand that people may need to travel to access the support they need, and we are interested in how you support them to do so.

Unfortunately, not. We are looking for organisations or partnerships whose charitable purpose and related activities are focused on newcomers to the UK.

We are open to partnerships which include local community centres, as long as the charitable purpose of the partnership and the lead organisation is supporting newcomers to the UK, and the partnership meets our other criteria.

Unfortunately, not. We are looking for organisations or partnerships whose charitable purpose and related activities are focused on newcomers to the UK. In addition, this Fund doesn’t fund organisations whose primary charitable purpose is the advancement of religion.

We are open to partnerships which include local faith-based organisations, as long as the charitable purpose of the partnership and the lead organisation is supporting newcomers to the UK, and the partnership meets our other criteria.

Unfortunately, not. We are looking for organisations or partnerships rooted in their communities, with a local physical presence, and with strong connections with local stakeholders. We are interested in the role you play in the local ‘ecosystem’ of Welcome.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate at least an 18-month track record of providing all three core elements of Welcome work outlined in the guidelines. We do not require that applicants physically deliver all services in-house as we recognise that in some cases it will be necessary to refer people to, or collaborate with, external specialists.

No. We welcome applications from organisations or partnerships of all sizes and there are no minimum or maximum income thresholds, although we expect applicants to be able to demonstrate their capacity to manage a grant of this size. We recognise that an organisation’s income affects its capacity and fundraising ability, and we take this into account to support fair assessment.

Henry Smith Foundation does not fund any work outside the UK. Your organisation must be based in the UK. However, we can support organisations with UK-based project work, even if they also work overseas.

Yes. We will fund work that specialises in Welcome for children and young people if it meets our other criteria.

Yes, as long as the organisation’s work focuses on newcomers to the UK and the majority of the support funded through this grant is delivered in the UK.

Absolutely. If you’re unsure whether your organisation is a good fit, we’re happy to talk it through. Call us on 020 7264 4970 or request a callback You can also email us at saferfutures@henrysmith.foundation

Yes. Evidence from partnership-working to support refugee integration has shown the value of coordinating the different skills and experiences of organisations so as to provide person-centred, holistic support. We welcome applications from established partnerships set up with the charitable purpose of supporting newcomers to the UK, if they can demonstrate how roles, responsibilities and delivery are coordinated. Partnerships must have a formal partnership agreement in place and a minimum of 18 months’ track record of joint delivery.

Only one organisation can be the lead applicant, and they must meet the eligibility criteria. If the application is successful, the lead organisation will receive the grant and distribute it among the partners. We will make only one grant per organisation or partnership.

No. This fund is designed to strengthen and sustain existing services and organisations or partnerships dedicated to supporting newcomers. To be eligible you must have:

· At least 18 months’ track record providing all three core elements of Welcome work outlined in the guidance

· Your first set of published annual accounts

Strong collaboration with local stakeholders—such as councils, statutory agencies and other civil society organisations—is very important as part of the influencing work element of Welcome work. We are looking for organisations and partnerships embedded in their communities, who are connecting, championing and strengthening local Welcome ecosystems.

Evidence from research we have commissioned and from previous Welcome and integration work shows the value of combining specialist help with activities supporting social connection and inclusion. For example, over time people move from being ‘service users’ into volunteering, employment or other forms of community participation. But we understand that for people to feel connected and a sense of belonging they first need practical assistance, often involving specialist expertise. At the same time, we know social connection reduces the isolation many people experience, so we want to back work connecting newcomers with each other and other residents, enabling shared experiences, friendship and solidarity. Alongside service delivery, we want to support organisations and partnerships that influence local practices, policies and cultures that strengthen Welcome.

This includes practical support such as regulated immigration advice (IAA-accredited), support with other rights and entitlements, housing and destitution, healthcare and refugee-oriented therapeutic trauma support, education and employment. It also includes work that is culturally specific, for example women-only or LGBT+ services. Services can be delivered in-house or through robust referrals.

No. We anticipate that grant holders will have sufficient in-house experience and expertise to deliver some if not all support services. And we understand that accessing specialist support may require grant holders to refer people elsewhere. Referral pathways must be reliable, through trusted partners with appropriate expertise and experience to meet people’s needs.

We interpret this broadly. Influencing work may include work with a variety of local stakeholders to improve local conditions for Welcome. For example, it may include, but is not limited to, advocacy and engagement with local policymakers and statutory agencies to improve local practices and policies, reduce barriers to participation, and create more positive conditions for local Welcome. Equally, it may involve public education and engagement work that builds support for Welcome, engaging with local educators and employers, or strengthening coordination between third sector organisations and statutory partners.

This includes social and community activities that provide regular opportunities for connection and relationship-building between newcomers and between newcomers and other residents. This may include shared cultural, arts or sports activities, volunteering, community-led events, or other approaches that foster trust and sustained relationships, such as linking into community sponsorship schemes. We are looking for work that is sustained over time and builds enduring connections. Evidence suggests a strong desire among newcomers to participate in society and feel like they are contributing, particularly through volunteering. Social activities involving newcomers often serve as entry points to more practical or specialist support services.

Very important. We will prioritise organisations or partnerships that can demonstrate how they enable the people with lived experience that they support to meaningfully shape, inform, or lead their work or their organisations. This is about participation and agency. We want to understand how the people accessing Welcome support have the opportunity to influence the design, delivery and strategy of the work that directly affects them.

We aim for a broad spread of funded organisations across the UK, including both urban and rural contexts.

We plan to offer optional opportunities for funded organisations to connect, learn and share experiences, potentially supported by a learning or movement-building partner. Participation in these activities will not be a condition of the grant.

Yes. If you currently hold another Henry Smith Foundation grant you can apply for this fund. You can only hold one grant from this specific Fund.

That’s up to you. We will not reject an application because AI was used. However, applications that rely too heavily on AI can sound generic or vague and may lack the specificity and authenticity that helps us understand what makes your work distinctive. AI can be helpful, but your voice and experience matter. See more on using AI in applications.