United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme

The United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) was announced by the Home Secretary on 17 June 2019, and consolidates the following schemes: 

• Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme
• Vulnerable Children Resettlement Scheme
• Gateway Protection Programme 

The purpose of the new scheme is to resettle up to 5,000 of the world’s most vulnerable refugees in its first year, once the flagship Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme concludes.

For ongoing years, no resettlement target figure has been set.

Participating district councils

The following districts participate in UKRS:

• Blackpool
• Burnley
• Chorley
• Hyndburn
• Lancaster
• Pendle
• Preston
• South Ribble
• West Lancashire
• Wyre

Lancashire's commitment

Lancashire has committed to resettle 240 people under the UKRS, between November 2020 and April 2023. The ability to resettle people at a faster pace earlier on in the scheme was severely impacted by Covid-19.

Information about what is expected of councils who participate in the UKRS, is available in the UK resettlement programmes: funding instruction 2020 to 2021 on GOV.UK. The funding instructions set out the conditions under which the funding is disbursed, the outcomes required and the processes to be followed to claim funds. They also provide more detailed definitions of eligibility.

Resettlement figures

United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS)

As of 17 August 2023, Lancashire has resettled 95 people out of the pledged 240 through the UKRS. 

Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS)

Lancashire committed to resettle 575 people under the VPRS, between 2016 and 2020.  At the close of the scheme in 2021, Lancashire had resettled 654 people.

Vulnerable Children Resettlement Scheme (VCRS)

At the close of the scheme in 2021, Lancashire had resettled 27 people through VCRS.