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Find a room for refugees, says Bristol mayor Find a room for refugees, says Bristol mayor
(about 1 hour later)
Bristol's mayor is urging people to find a spare room in their homes for refugees, as the council says it hopes to take some of the "desperate".Bristol's mayor is urging people to find a spare room in their homes for refugees, as the council says it hopes to take some of the "desperate".
George Ferguson said social housing was full, but he hoped those "fortunate enough" to have space would help. George Ferguson said he would arrange to take somebody in himself and hoped those with "space in their homes" and "generous hearts" would follow.
His comments came as refugees were offered places to stay in other parts of the country. Bob Geldof is among other people who have offered to take in refugees.
The prime minister has said the UK will accept thousands more Syrian refugees in response to the humanitarian crisis.The prime minister has said the UK will accept thousands more Syrian refugees in response to the humanitarian crisis.
Extra refugees will come from UN camps bordering Syria, not those already in Europe. Campaigner Geldof said he would take in four families at his homes in Kent and London, telling Ireland's RTE Radio: "It's a failure of that new politics that's led to this... absolute sickening disgrace."
Campaigner Bob Geldof has offered to take in four families, while calling the political reaction to the situation an "absolute sickening disgrace". Elsewhere, the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, has offered to take 100 refugees into the city.
Geldof told Ireland's RTE Radio: "I can't stand what is happening. I cannot stand what it does to us." And the Dean of York Minster, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, said the cathedral would offer one of its vacant properties to a family.
Elsewhere, the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, has offered to take in 100 refugees into the city. 'Lead by example'
And the Dean of York Minster, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, said the cathedral would offer one of its vacant properties to a family - as she urged more in the city to come forward with help. It has not been decided how many refugees Bristol could take. The city has 13,000 households on the waiting list for social housing.
'Do something' Mr Ferguson said: "I have a small room that I could offer and I shall do so... I will make arrangements to be able to take somebody in."
It has not been decided how many refugees Bristol could take. The mayor, whose family took in a Ugandan family fleeing Idi Amin's regime in the 1970s, said he wanted to "lead by example".
Mr Ferguson said Bristol had 13,000 households on the waiting list for social housing, so was technically full. He said he was not asking people living in crowded housing to take more people. But was looking for those "who do have space in their homes and a huge generous heart" to take people in and help them get back on their feet.
But he said: "I'm looking for people right across Bristol to be able to volunteer to take people in.
"Some people are fortunate enough to be able to do something about it.
"It's those people I'm asking. I'm not asking people to squeeze more people into an already overcrowded home."
Mr Ferguson has not yet said whether he will be accommodating refugees.
Syrians in BristolSyrians in Bristol
Bristol, a city of sanctuary, is also in talks with charities and landlords about finding space.Bristol, a city of sanctuary, is also in talks with charities and landlords about finding space.
Councillor Brenda Massey has met voluntary and charity sector representatives. Councillor Brenda Massey said she had been contacted by Syrians in Bristol who were offering help, as well as some of the city's mosques. But she said it was important Bristol had a long-term solution for refugees - with housing, education and health facilities in place.
She said she had been contacted by Syrians in Bristol who were offering help, as well as some of the city's mosques. Calls for Britain to offer refuge to more of the thousands of people fleeing Syria and other countries intensified after a photo was published of a drowned three-year-old Syrian boy.
But she first wanted to make sure Bristol had a long-term solution for refugees - with housing, education and health facilities in place.
Calls for Britain to offer refuge to more of the thousands of people fleeing Syria and other countries intensified after a photo was published of a drowned three-year-old Syrian boy on a Turkish beach.
Labour leadership contender Yvette Cooper said on Tuesday every city should be asked to accept 10 refugee families.Labour leadership contender Yvette Cooper said on Tuesday every city should be asked to accept 10 refugee families.
The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, said any help offered by councils must be voluntary "where support can be adequately provided" and Whitehall covers the costs. The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, said any help offered by councils must be voluntary and Whitehall must cover the costs.
A spokesman for Cosla, which represents most Scottish councils, said a number of them were "in discussions with the Home Office about accepting more" Syrian refugees - if they get support from Holyrood and Westminster.A spokesman for Cosla, which represents most Scottish councils, said a number of them were "in discussions with the Home Office about accepting more" Syrian refugees - if they get support from Holyrood and Westminster.