Charities and voluntary organisations are raising serious concerns about government proposals to link volunteering to asylum settlement. The proposals form part of the government’s wider asylum and immigration reforms, which would allow volunteering to be used as a condition to obtain, or shorten the route to, settlement in the UK. Drawing on engagement with 314 organisations, NCVO’s findings show overwhelming concern across the voluntary sector. Respondents were in strong opposition to the proposed inclusion of volunteering to obtain or shorten the route to settlement for asylum seekers and refugees. Of…
Read MoreMonth: March 2026
Thrive Renewables launches crowdfunding bond offer to help fund two new wind farms
Renewable energy investment company, Thrive Renewables plc, has launched a new £5 million bond offer on Triodos Bank UK’s crowdfunding platform. The finance raised will contribute to the development and construction of two new wind farms in Scotland and Wales, and provide funding to enable communities to build and own their own local projects. Thrive is a certified B Corp with a 30-year track record in delivering new clean energy projects and providing opportunities for communities to own wind and solar farms in their neighbourhood. Over three decades, the organisation…
Read MoreUNHCR launches new platform to analyse complex journeys across key routes
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has launched the Routes Monitor, a new data platform offering the most comprehensive picture to date of mixed movements across and along major global routes. Updated monthly, the platform brings together multiple sources of information – including from UNHCR, national authorities, UN and NGO partners, and media and social media monitoring – to show evolving trends, highlight protection needs and support more effective responses along entire journeys. This will help provide better protection and solutions where people are, offering alternatives to dangerous journeys. With a…
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