Red Cross For Manchester Refugees
A new project has been launched that will support refugees across Greater Manchester who have fled from war-torn countries like Syria.
The British Red Cross, along with a number of agencies, are pumping millions of pounds into the Greater Manchester Refugee Support Partnership which was launched at the Imperial War Museum North this morning.
The five-year project will support refugees and asylum seekers endeavouring to aid them out of poverty by providing them with legal aid, English and IT classes, food parcels and support and companionship.
Rob Arnold, the senior service manager of the British Red Cross for refugee support, told Key103: "One of the real problems refugees and asylum seekers face is isolation, especially if they are not part of a new community or have friends or family.
"We find a lot of them spend time on their own and this can lead to mental health problems.
"We think that the support we have available to them should be as local to them as possible to combat these issues."
As the refugee crisis continues the project also aims to help intergrate asylum seekers into local communities.
Mr Arnold said: "The whole idea of what we do to support them is to try and provide some dignity and respect in their lives and help them feel a part of a society in the UK.
"I think there is much more we can do to work with local communities and make people feel much more a part of the UK."
About half of the money, £4.5m, is lottery funded with the other half being provided by the partners themselves.
This money will be used to create six different local hubs to provide services to refugees.
The British Red Cross is also hoping that the project will help decrease stigma surrounding the crisis.
Mr Arnold told Key103: "Our statistics show that there are around 4,500 asylum seekers dispersed over Greater Manchester in any one year, and that is 0.2% of the population.
"It is a tiny amount but it is really important that we do not put them on the back foot when they first arrive here by having a stigma."
Tony Lloyd, the interim Mayor of Greater Manchester, GPs and council leaders spoke at the event about how Manchester can become a leading city in welcoming asylum seekers.
Refugees who have already received support also took part in the panel debate which was followed by a drama performance by Revive Action Group.
By Emily Murray