Current news.
From Community Sponsorship to UK Citizenship
Huge congratulations to Islam El Boukan on becoming a UK Citizen at a ceremony in Taunton recently.
Islam and her mother, father and two brothers were the first family CHARIS settled through the UK government Community Sponsorship Scheme back in 2017. She was 13 years old when she arrived and attended Queens College in Taunton before starting a degree in Pharmacy at Brighton University last year.
Your family and all at CHARIS are delighted for you and proud of your achievements.
SANCTUARY refugee art exhibition a great success
SANCTUARY, an exhibition of art by refugees and asylum seekers who have found sanctuary in Somerset, was a great success. Hundreds of visitors to Wells Cathedral viewed the exhibition in the cloisters last week, and many left appreciative comments in the visitors book.
RT wrote, "What a wonderful exhibition - a testament to new beginnings and the power of hope."
BV wrote, "Felt very touched. Thank you for bringing beauty to us."
The artists from eight nationalities are refugees or asylum seekers who attend CHARIS art groups. Some are professional artists and others had not attempted painting until a few months ago!
CHARIS Vision.
To see individual refugees and families happily settled in the UK and contributing to the wellbeing of their communities.
CHARIS Mission.
To be friends to refugees, and to provide the practical, emotional and spiritual support they need to settle and live happy and healthy lives.
Stories of transformation.
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Supporting refugees.
Moved by the plight of thousands of refugees fleeing war in Syria, and in direct response to the Government's opportunity to sponsor refugee families from the Middle East, three churches in Taunton came together to form CHARIS. We received our first family in July 2017 and continue to settle families around Taunton and Exeter.
Supporting other
Community Sponsorship Groups.
In addition, CHARIS is working in partnership with Reset in the Southwest of England to provide training, advice and application workshops for other Community Sponsorship groups that are welcoming refugees into the region.
