Syria - how you can help the refugees

It is now a year since Wiltshire Council decided to participate in the Government's Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme. Wiltshire was one of the first local authorities to welcome refugees under the scheme and is now home to 68 Syrian refugees.

WC say :"We are grateful to the many volunteers who have worked with us and our partner agencies to ensure they have everything they need to settle here quickly. The volunteers have been part of a multi-agency approach to ensure the individuals and families have all they need. Our families are based all over Wiltshire with each family or person having a volunteer on hand to support them as they become accustomed to the British way of life. Our families who have been here for some time are already integrating with their communities and volunteering or gaining work experience as well as preparing to find work.

Some of the Syrian refugees in the county have recently been reunited with other members of their family. We have worked closely with the Home Office to achieve this and where we can we consider such requests. Each of the families that have been reunited with relatives in Wiltshire has been eligible in their own right for the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme (that is, they fall into the most vulnerable category of refugees who have been victims of violence or torture, have medical needs or are women and girls at risk)."

The numbers of Syrian refugees who can be accommodate in 2017 will be determined to a large extent by the availability of suitable accommodation. If you know of someone willing to explore renting their house or flat to a Syrian refugee, please contact the housing options team on 01225 718005 or homeless@wiltshire.gov.uk

The council is looking for self contained properties, available to rent for a minimum of 12 months at Local Housing Allowance rate. The team are happy to talk about wider support that can be given to enable properties to be rented. The properties will be for families or individuals living on their own. Wiltshire Community Foundation and volunteers will help with cleaning and overseeing the properties, including furnishing and decorating properties and providing welcome packs.

Support is in place for each family, including interpreters and an appointed support worker to help the families settle in. All refugees are able to work in the UK and are supported to learn English (when not already fluent). Many already have a professional background or qualification and those who have arrived in Wiltshire already have shown a strong desire to integrate and have been very grateful for the opportunity for a safe new home.

Funding for the refugee programme comes through the UK Government's International Aid budget and this covers all the costs - including furnishing the homes and ensuring refugees have the key essentials to help them start their life here.

People can go online to offer help to support refugee families. The Help Refugees in the UK webpage has been launched by the government to allow people interested in providing support to log their interest and detail the support they can provide.

In Wiltshire, people wishing to help can offer in a number of areas including housing; community, group and cultural activities; electrical goods and toys; full or part time jobs; or fostering and independent visiting.

People willing to help can access the website on https://help-refugees-uk.service.gov.uk/next to register the services they can offer.