Merton LBC was the first London borough to welcome a refugee family through the Community Sponsorship Scheme.

The Syrian family has recently been resettled in Merton after spending the last five years in a refugee camp in Lebanon. This was as part of the Government's Community Sponsorship Scheme, launched by the Home Office last summer. The scheme has enabled community groups, including charities, faith groups, churches and businesses to take the lead to resettle refugee families in their area with the support of national and local government.