Shropshire supports Syrian refugee arrivals

Shropshire’s Syrian Refugees working group are pleased to announce the first five Syrian refugee families are resettling into local communities and are starting their new life in Shropshire.

The families are the first to arrive in the county.  The arrival of these in Shropshire comes after a task group was set up by the council last September to respond to the ongoing international refugee crisis.

Shropshire has committed to supporting up to 10 Syrian refugee families fleeing camps in the war-torn region, and are working closely with Refugee Action who were appointed to oversee the resettlement of up to 10 families in the county.

With over 30 years’ experience, Refugee Action is the leading charity supporting the resettlement of refugees in the UK, enabling some of the world’s most vulnerable people to rebuild their lives in dignity and integrate within local communities.

The charity is working closely with Shropshire’s Syrian Refugee Cross-Party Working Group, and the team of dedicated staff and volunteers have been helping the new arrivals settle into their new homes, access local services, and identify way to help them integrate with local communities.

Councillor Mal Price, Chair of Shropshire’s Syrian Refugee Cross-Party Working, said:

“I am really pleased the first five families have arrived and are being supported and resettled quickly into their local communities.

“We know from talking with our Refugee Action colleagues and the local community support group, that the families are extremely grateful for the support and kindness from these organisations.

“However, on behalf of all partners involved in Shropshire’s resettlement programme, we do request at this time that the families’ privacy is respected. These families are among some of the most vulnerable displaced Syrians identified by the UN, which is working alongside the Home Office. Our working group and local communities will continue to work closely with the family as they embark on their new life in Shropshire.”

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.

Several independent groups have been set up across the county to help and support Syrian refugees.

Shropshire’s Syrian Refugee Cross-Party Working Group continues to liaise with the Home Office to make to make arrangements to accept a further five families in due course. Shropshire’s Syrian Refugee resettlement programme is being funded through a specific grant payment form central government.

For more information about the Shropshire’s Syrian Refugee resettlement programme visit http://shropshire.gov.uk/syrian-refugee-support/.

Further information

Following the Government’s announcement in September 2015 to resettle up to 20,000 Syrian refugees, councillors unanimously agreed that month to support the Syrian Refugee appeal.

As a result, a cross-party working group was set up, which is supported by senior officers who will be co-ordinating the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Shropshire. Members of the group include:

• Councillors representing each of the political parties
• Shropshire Council’s adult services, children’s services, safeguarding team and housing services
• Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly
• West Mercia Police
• Shropshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group
• Shropshire Fire and Rescue
• The group are working closely with the Home Office and the Government’s West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership (WMSMP) to put in place arrangements to house and support the refugees. Refugee Action have been supporting families in registering with their local GP, and ensureing that school-age children are found places at schools. They also oversee that appointments are booked with the Department for Work and Pensions regarding benefits, and that they are given a case worker and a tour of the area.
• The cross-party group have been working through plans to help resettle up to 10 Syrian families (up to 60 individuals). Work includes identifying accommodation, collating offers of support, reviewing health requirements and other key support services.