Shropshire Star

Shropshire set to house more Syrian refugee families

Five more Syrian refugee families will be brought to the county over the next 12 months, if Shropshire Councillors approve a report next week.

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The authority's cabinet will meet on Wednesday when they are expected to agree to support another five refugee families, taking the total housed in the county to around 60 people.

Councillors will also be asked to approve Shropshire's role in caring for unaccompanied asylum seeker children, with 42 expected to be looked after in the county.

So far Shropshire has welcomed eight Syrian refugee families to the county, with a group set up to co-ordinate healthcare, accommodation and education.

The recommendation to be considered by the cabinet, prepared by council officer Ruth Houghton, said the council should agree to support up to a further five Syrian refugee families taking the total cohort in Shropshire up to 15 families over the next 12 months, or around 60 or so people, dependent on family size.

To date, Shropshire Council has accepted eight Syrian refugee families into the county with 16 adults and 17 children settling after two arrival flights over the summer.

The report highlights that the authority is pleased with the early indications as to how the families are settling in.

Ms Houghton said: "The first five families arrived in Shropshire in June and are settling in well. They are being supported by Refugee Action, the British Red Cross and local volunteers. The support has been commissioned by Shropshire Council and is funded through a grant from central government.

"Housing has been sourced from the private rented sector with no reliance on social housing.

"Furniture and fittings have been supplied through Revive and is the equivalent to the basic furniture pack provided through benefits support."

The council says that it has faced a number of difficulties in settling children who have been relocated to the county.

Ms Houghton said: "It has been challenging to match some of the children and young people with appropriate supportive and experienced providers, and particularly with an appropriate faith.

"The cultural match presents a real issue for Shropshire, and it has been necessary to place children outside of the county in order to meet their cultural and indeed social needs.

"Experience to date would suggest that whilst some of these children settle well, some do not, preferring to relocate themselves to big cities particularly but not exclusively, London where their cultural and religious needs and social aspirations can be met."

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