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Cornwall refugee group raises thousands to help resettle Syrian families Cornwall refugee group raises thousands to help resettle Syrian families
(35 minutes later)
A refugee support group in a small Cornwall town hopes to welcome two Syrian families after raising thousands of pounds.A refugee support group in a small Cornwall town hopes to welcome two Syrian families after raising thousands of pounds.
Bude Welcomes Refugees, a 30-strong group based in the north Cornwall seaside resort, wants to be one of the earliest adopters of the community sponsorship scheme to resettle refugee families. Bude Welcomes Refugees, a 30-person group based in the north Cornwall seaside resort, wants to be one of the earliest adopters of the community sponsorship scheme to resettle refugee families.
The initiative enables community organisations including charities, faith groups, churches and businesses, to take on the role of supporting resettled refugees in the UK. The initiative enables community organisations, including charities, faith groups, churches and businesses, to take on the role of supporting resettled refugees in the UK.
The group has applied for charity status and presented its plan to Cornwall council for approval, required to secure Home Office clearance. The group has applied for charity status and presented its plan to Cornwall council for approval, which is required to secure Home Office clearance.
Richie Heard has been volunteering in an old RNLI lifeboat to save migrants and refugees attempting the crossing from Turkey to Greece. He said the initiative showed “just how much love this part of the country has to give”.Richie Heard has been volunteering in an old RNLI lifeboat to save migrants and refugees attempting the crossing from Turkey to Greece. He said the initiative showed “just how much love this part of the country has to give”.
The lifeguard, 32, who lives in Hartland, Devon, said: “I think it’s great, I think it’s lovely, and the fact that it’s coming to Bude ... there are so many people I know that would love to come out and jump on that boat and do what I do and help in such a dramatic way, I feel very lucky to have the skills and the opportunity to do it. The lifeguard, 32, who lives in Hartland, Devon, said: “I think it’s great, I think it’s lovely, and the fact that it’s coming to Bude ... There are so many people I know that would love to come out and jump on that boat, and do what I do and help in such a dramatic way, I feel very lucky to have the skills and the opportunity to do it.
“But it’s given a lot of people here a great way to directly help these refugees who are coming across. I know so many people that have just dropped what they’re doing and started to raise money for these two families. And people here just absolutely just can’t do enough to help. I haven’t heard anyone cast a negative opinion on this scheme that’s running. “But it’s given a lot of people here a great way to directly help these refugees who are coming across. I know so many people that have just dropped what they’re doing and started to raise money for these two families. And people here just absolutely can’t do enough to help. I haven’t heard anyone cast a negative opinion on this scheme that’s running.
“There’s obviously going to be one or two people with a snide comment, but I think that’s born of ignorance. I think if you put most of these people in front of that Syrian family and asked them to judge again, they’d soon change their opinion.”“There’s obviously going to be one or two people with a snide comment, but I think that’s born of ignorance. I think if you put most of these people in front of that Syrian family and asked them to judge again, they’d soon change their opinion.”
The group has raised more than £12,600 for the first of two families it hopes to offer homes to, which will cover the cost of interpreters, English lessons and top-up fees for local authority rates paid for private accommodation. The group has raised more than £12,600 for the first of the two families it hopes to offer homes to, which will cover the cost of interpreters, English lessons and top-up fees for local authority rates paid for private accommodation.
All groups hoping to take part in the government scheme must be either a registered charity or community interest company, have the consent of the local authority in which they wish to operate, and a comprehensive plan for resettlement to apply. All organisations hoping to take part in the government scheme must be either registered charities or community interest companies, and have the consent of the local authority in which they wish to operate and a comprehensive plan for resettlement.
Sponsors under the scheme provide housing for the refugee family, as well as helping them to integrate into life in the UK, access medical and social services, arranging English language tuition and supporting them towards employment and self-sufficiency. Sponsors under the scheme provide housing for the refugee family, as well as helping them integrate into life in the UK and access medical and social services, arrange English language tuition and support them towards employment and self-sufficiency.