Every year, thousands of individuals and families arrive in the UK seeking sanctuary.
For a newly arrived refugee or asylum seeker, navigating a new city can be an incredibly isolating experience. Local churches are uniquely placed to offer the community, friendship, and practical support these individuals need to rebuild their lives.
Together Liverpool is running a lunchtime session to discover how Welcome Churches can help your community offer a safe, warm welcome.
Join us for an on-line conversation exploring how local churches across the Liverpool City Region can become designated ‘Welcome Churches’ and step up into the Welcome Churches+ network.
This event is for church leaders, clergy, volunteers, Network of Kindness members, and anyone in churches across the Liverpool City Region who wants to wants to support refugees and asylum seekers, fostering a culture of hospitality and inclusion.
Participants will learn about the core Welcome Churches network and explore the enhanced Welcome Churches+ framework.
Taking place on Friday 6th November from 12 midday to 1pm, this event will offer a mixture of insight, local case studies, and a dedicated space for discussion, allowing you to connect with and learn from others on the same journey.
We will look at the practical tools, intercultural training, and specialized resources available to help your congregation provide a deeper level of sustained support. Whether your church is already actively supporting refugees or you are completely new to this and simply want to know where to start, this session will provide clear, actionable next steps.
Joseph Cottrell, Social Action Lead Development Office for Together Liverpool who will lead the session, said: “A simple welcome can change everything for someone arriving in an unfamiliar city.
“By partnering with Welcome Churches and Welcome Churches+, we are helping local congregations move from well-meaning intentions to safe, practical, and deeply impactful long-term action. This session is about equipping our network to ensure no one seeking sanctuary in Liverpool has to face their new beginning alone.”
The session is designed to fit into a lunch break and will run as follows:
● 12:00pm: Welcome and introductions from Together Liverpool.
● 12:10pm: Introduction to Welcome Churches & Welcome Churches+ – understanding the vision, the referral network, and the advanced training modules available to local congregations.
● 12:30pm: Local Story – hearing from a Liverpool-based church already engaged in this vital work.
● 12:40pm: Q&A and Open Discussion – a chance to ask questions about the Welcome Churches+ criteria, share your own experiences, and discuss barriers or opportunities in your local area.
● 12:55pm: Wrap-up and next steps for getting involved.
Resources and links to the Welcome Churches will be emailed to all registered attendees following the session.
Key takeaways:
● Gain insight into the specific challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers arriving in the Liverpool City Region.
● Learn how joining the national Welcome Churches network connects individuals directly to your church via their secure referral system.
● Discover free training modules, resources, and specific toolkits designed to equip your volunteers for long-term engagement.
● Build relationships with other churches and groups in the Network of Kindness passionate about social justice and hospitality.
