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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/05/uk-councils-call-for-more-money-to-support-extra-refugees
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| UK councils call for extra cash to support refugees as volunteers step up | UK councils call for extra cash to support refugees as volunteers step up |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Frontline public services will need extra funding if Britain takes in more Syrian refugees, David Cameron has been warned, as a wave of volunteer action sweeps across the UK in response to the crisis. | Frontline public services will need extra funding if Britain takes in more Syrian refugees, David Cameron has been warned, as a wave of volunteer action sweeps across the UK in response to the crisis. |
| The prime minister bowed to intense political pressure and announced on Friday that Britain would resettle thousands more refugees from the camps bordering the war-ravaged country. | The prime minister bowed to intense political pressure and announced on Friday that Britain would resettle thousands more refugees from the camps bordering the war-ravaged country. |
| But as a convoy of 20 cars loaded with emergency supplies headed for Calais, the Local Government Association (LGA) said significant sums were already being spent supporting refugees in Britain. | But as a convoy of 20 cars loaded with emergency supplies headed for Calais, the Local Government Association (LGA) said significant sums were already being spent supporting refugees in Britain. |
| Related: Germany prepares for up to 10,000 refugee arrivals - live updates | Related: Germany prepares for up to 10,000 refugee arrivals - live updates |
| David Simmonds, of the LGA’s asylum, refugee and migrant taskforce, said English councils were already taking 2,000 unaccompanied refugee children a year at a cost of £50,000 per child. A further £150m a year was being spent supporting destitute families whose asylum applications have been turned down. | David Simmonds, of the LGA’s asylum, refugee and migrant taskforce, said English councils were already taking 2,000 unaccompanied refugee children a year at a cost of £50,000 per child. A further £150m a year was being spent supporting destitute families whose asylum applications have been turned down. |
| He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If we are going to scale those numbers up significantly, we need to make sure that those kinds of resources are available to England’s councils and also other public services to make sure we have what is required in terms of school places, hospital beds, GPs, that sort of thing.” | He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If we are going to scale those numbers up significantly, we need to make sure that those kinds of resources are available to England’s councils and also other public services to make sure we have what is required in terms of school places, hospital beds, GPs, that sort of thing.” |
| Simmonds said councils would be delighted by any families who follow Bob Geldof’s example and offer to put up refugees in their homes. | |
| He later described the Live Aid star’s offer as “a bit pie in the sky”. | |
| “If Bob Geldof is willing to make that offer, I’m sure his local council, which will already have a lot of people on its housing waiting list, will be very happy to bring them around this afternoon,” Simmonds said. | |
| Related: Aid group urges Britons not to drive to Calais after convoy situation | Related: Aid group urges Britons not to drive to Calais after convoy situation |
| While he said Britons were being very kindhearted to offer their homes, he cast doubt over whether people were willing to support refugees for the years it often takes for applications to be decided. | |
| “To put it in context, one of the appeals was very impressive in that it raised £200,000 in 24 hours. But that is roughly what England’s councils spend in a day supporting households whose asylum applications have been refused, never mind the rest,” Simmonds said. | |
| “The cost of providing the services we would need to provide is clearly very significant. Generous offers are very good, but if it takes several years to process somebody’s asylum application, that person is not allowed to work. Are those people who are opening those homes genuinely willing to have a stranger from a war-torn country living in their house potentially for three or four years while a decision is made about whether they will be allowed to stay?” | |
| Meanwhile, Labour leadership candidate Yvette Cooper said 40 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales had answered her call for more places for refugees within 24 hours. She said: “There is a real determination and a rising sense of moral purpose across Britain to help desperate families. But now the prime minister needs to match it.” | |
| That rising sense of moral purpose was matched by a groundswell in public action, as people across the UK arranged to take vital supplies of food, clothing and shelter to the thousands who have been forced to flee conflict in the Middle East and Africa. | That rising sense of moral purpose was matched by a groundswell in public action, as people across the UK arranged to take vital supplies of food, clothing and shelter to the thousands who have been forced to flee conflict in the Middle East and Africa. |
| Maz Saleem, who helped organise the Calais convoy with the Stand Up To Racism group, said she was appalled by what she called the government’s negative attitude towards the crisis. | Maz Saleem, who helped organise the Calais convoy with the Stand Up To Racism group, said she was appalled by what she called the government’s negative attitude towards the crisis. |
| She said: “I think it’s disgraceful the way David Cameron has made out that people are coming over here to get benefits, when actually they are fleeing war and persecution.” | She said: “I think it’s disgraceful the way David Cameron has made out that people are coming over here to get benefits, when actually they are fleeing war and persecution.” |
| Related: Refugee crisis: the UK local government response so far | Related: Refugee crisis: the UK local government response so far |
| Several small groups have taken it upon themselves to gather supplies to take to the French port, including one from the Al’Burrito bar in Southsea, Hampshire, which has collected enough donations to fill six vans. | Several small groups have taken it upon themselves to gather supplies to take to the French port, including one from the Al’Burrito bar in Southsea, Hampshire, which has collected enough donations to fill six vans. |
| Meanwhile, a team of people have joined together to collect the tents that will be left behind by revellers at next weekend’s Bestival on the Isle of Wight, to be taken to Calais. | |
| Football fans will be showing their support by making donations and waving banners saying “Refugees Welcome” at upcoming matches, while Dulwich Hamlet supporters’ trust is collecting food, clothing and camping supplies at the club’s game on Saturday. | Football fans will be showing their support by making donations and waving banners saying “Refugees Welcome” at upcoming matches, while Dulwich Hamlet supporters’ trust is collecting food, clothing and camping supplies at the club’s game on Saturday. |