SYRIAN refugees could arrive in Stratford before the end of November..
Following a decision by Stratford District Council’s cabinet in December, 12 families will be resettled from refugee camps over the next four years under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme – with the first two set to arrive next month.
Warwickshire is expected to become home for at least 31 Syrian refugee families by 2020..
The decision came after government promised to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees from camps in Lebanon and Jordan over the course of this parliament.
With readily available services including language classes and public transport links, Stratford was chosen as the best location to house some of the families.
The council is working with schools and GPs in the district, as well as Warwickshire County Council, to help the families settle into the area.
District housing spokesman Coun Robert Vaudry said: “Most local residents will be familiar with the terrible situations many refugees from the conflict in Syria are experiencing.
“The district council is very happy to be playing its part in this UK wide humanitarian effort to provide sanctuary to the most vulnerable families through the relocation scheme.
“I hope these families feel welcomed by the local community, integrate successfully and come to enjoy living in Stratford.”
Families will also be able to access a befriending service run by church groups and volunteers, which will give them information including places to shop and socialise and places of worship.
The families will live in private housing rather than council-owned homes, and funds to help the refugees with rent, integration and learning English will come from central government.
Contact Carol Roberts at [email protected] to find out more.
