Teeside Welcomes Refugees
As the migrant crisis deepens the people of Teesside say they'd be happy to step in to help refugees.
As the migrant crisis deepens the people of Teesside say they'd be happy to step in to help refugees.
A number of organisations around the region say they've been surprised by the amount of help offered by members of the public.
It was revealed last week that Teesside hopes to lead the way in the resettlement of migrants announced by Prime Minister David Cameron.
Councillors from Stockton-On-Tees said they planned to use empty council homes to accommodate the hundreds of migrants expected in the region.
Justice First, a charity who help asylum seekers in the Teesside area, say they've received thousands of pounds in donations since the migrant crisis took hold.
One donation came in the form of a cheque for ÂŁ1000.
Pete Widlinksi is the manager of the organisation, he says Teesside has developed a strong reputation for housing refugees and asylum seekers.
He said: "Local Teessiders understand the human story behind people having to flee from persecution."
"To be absolutely honest people just open their arms to people."
"We have a hardship fund and we raise nearly ÂŁ40,000 a year, just from local people."
However, not all people in the region have been as welcoming towards the potential new arrivals.
TFM has found a number of posts by local people on social media using racist or xenaphobic language towards migrants.
But Hartlepool man Dominic Morgan says these people really need our help.
He used social media to set up Hartlepool for Calais - a group which aims to take supplies to support migrants living in the 'Jungle'.
He's already been to the site once before, and says if the people who posted racist comments could see the state of the camp, they wouldn't be so quick to condemn refugees.
He said: "If you stood in front of the 17-year-old Sudanese lad that I spoke to and listen to a story about how he lost his family in Libya.
"I don't think anybody would be able to remain as hard-hearted.
"I was stood in front of somebody else and I happened to win the lottery over where I was born.
"I felt an obligation to help these people because we would want that if the shoe was on the other foot."
You find out more about Justice First HERE and how to get involved with Hartlepool for Calais .