The main focus of our current awareness-raising is about the UK Government’s plans to deport some people seeking sanctuary in the UK to Rwanda. Our activities are part of the national campaign Together with Refugees. Locally, we are campaigning to let people in our community know why we oppose the Rwanda plan. We try to raise these issues in our local media, and we are also in open dialogue with our local MP Neil Hudson about the plan and other aspects of the Government’s approach to refugees.

Refugees who have settled here tell us that Cumbria is a great place to live and work. Cumbria has shown that it is a place of welcome and support, and we reason that:

• outward-looking communities thrive and are successful as they are better able to grasp new opportunities, grow their economy and create local employment,
• a community that is diverse is open to innovation and change,
• Cumbria needs adults of working age in its job market, and
• Cumbria is a welcoming place and committed to humanitarian compassion.