C0259 Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) Scheme - AWARD

Birmingham City Council invites organisations to tender for a service to deliver orientation, accommodation and support services for vulnerable Syrian refugees following the UN estimation that as of February 2015, 12.2 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in Syria. At least 7.6 million people in Syria have had to flee their homes.

On 29 January 2014, the Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament outlining the Government's intention to relocate to the UK some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees, displaced to neighbouring countries by the on going conflict. This scheme has now been significantly extended and the Prime Minister announced on 7 September 2015 that the United Kingdom will accept 20,000 Syrian refugees, for the period of this Parliament, under the terms of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme.

Birmingham City Council has a contract for 50+ refugees but is now looking to replace that contract and extend to up to 125 refugees per year. These refugees will have complex needs and are likely to require a number of skills from providers to help them establish a stable and integrated life in Birmingham. It is likely that the successful provider(s) will have partnership, arrangements to allow them to tap in to a broad skill base to support this project and to give accommodation options to avoid social isolation of the refugees.