Shropshire Council prepares to resettle Syrian refugees

Plans to resettle Syrian refugees in Shropshire were announced at yesterday’s Full Council meeting (Thursday 24 September 2015).

The resettlement plans are being led by Shropshire’s cross party refugee working group, which currently includes cross party councillors, and people from public, voluntary and community organisations in Shropshire.

Shropshire Council had announced, after an informal Cabinet meeting earlier in the month (9 September 2015), that it is committed to help those refugees fleeing from the Syrian crisis. Councillors were unanimous that Shropshire should do what we can to help. The cross party group was established in response to the positive talks.

The group are working closely with the Government’s Regional Strategic Migration Partnership (RSMP) to put in place arrangements to house and support the refugees.　 Work includes identifying accommodation, collating offers of support, reviewing health requirements and other key support services.

Since the crisis in Syria has escalated, the council has received numerous offers of help from individuals and communities who’ve already organised themselves to provide aid.

Mal Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for housing said:

“Shropshire’s cross party group are still working through plans and responding to the latest information from RSMP. We have been asked how many refugees Shropshire is taking, but this has not been agreed as yet. We need to qualify what we have available.

“We’ve been absolutely inundated with generous and compassionate offers of help and donations from members of the public, and we are very grateful and thank everyone for your kind support.

Andy Boddington, local Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North, and member of the cross party refugee working group, added:-

“I have been heartened and encouraged by the hugely positive response to the refugee crisis from around the county. The working group will enable us to work closely with organisations and people offering support. We will also be able to draw on the wide-ranging expertise needed to settle and support any refugees that arrive in Shropshire. Our working group has made a good start. But we recognise that there will be a lot of challenges ahead if we are to play our part in helping people who are fleeing Syria in fear of their lives.”

A list of questions and answers is currently being compiled, to address any questions members of the public may want to ask. These will be available soon.

If you do have any queries or want further information, please email refugeesshropshire@shropshire.gov.uk.