Nidderdale volunteer group fundraising to offer new life to refugee family
They need to raise up to £9000 to be eligible for the government scheme
A community group in Nidderdale are hoping to raise £9000 to help a refugee family settle in the Dales.
Nidderdale Community Welcome have already raised nearly £4000, but need to hit the £9000 target set by the UK Government’s Community Sponsorship Scheme.
It allows ordinary people to welcome a refugee family to live in their community and support them to integrate.
Peter Wright is the project co-ordinator. He's warned they could need more money to help a family settle in the area.
He said: "The target the government sets is £9000 which covers bills and other housing costs, but we live in an area where housing is more expensive so we're aiming for around £13,000 to get our potentially family sorted.
"It's really brought the community together with a shared purpose and that's to help a family who have basically run into difficulties by living in a country which has descended into war or to escape a famine.
"It's not their fault that's happening in their country. Most of these families don't want to be leaving their communities. They're leaving everything they know to start a new life and that's a scary thing for someone to do.
"You have to bare in mind that they will have no experience of how things work in the UK so that's where we come in. We'll be there to support them for at least the first year and help them fit in.
"I think it'll be marvellous when we find out who our family is. I think there'll be a huge cheer when we get told, but it's unknown whether we'll meet them in person or over zoom to start with."
As United Nations and UK Government recognised refugees, the family will be entitled to work and to access benefits, health and education services.
Nidderdale Community Welcome's role is to support them to become independent.
They'll cover housing costs and tuition to teach the family English so they can settle into society.
You can donate to the fundraiser here.