About us 

 

Sherborne Area Refugee Support (also known as Shares) was set up in 2017 in response to the global refugee situation.

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There are now more people displaced from their homes than at any time since World War Two. Having fled persecution, violence and conflict in their own countries, many spend years in refugee camps, with children often living their entire lives in them. By welcoming and supporting refugees in the local area, Shares is helping families rebuild their lives in safety.

 

Shares is run by volunteers, and our main activity is to work with the local authority on resettling refugees under the UK government’s Syrian Vulnerable Persons' Resettlement scheme. We help to identify suitable homes, and encourage local people to volunteer their support, for example by becoming befrienders and helping with English language tuition. Other activities include raising awareness of the scheme and of wider issues relating to refugees and asylum seekers. 

 

Shares is run by volunteer trustees and it has charitable aims which are:

• To relieve financial hardship among those granted refugee status and their dependents, and those seeking asylum

• To advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum

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We work closely with other local organisations that support and welcome refugees, including Dorset Council, Cheap Street Church, and Refugee Aid from Taunton (RAFT). We also have the backing of the town council which issued a statement saying ‘Sherborne town council offers its wholehearted support to the work of Shares’.