A GROUP who campaigned to resettle a small group of Syrian refugee families into Malvern have said the town is now better prepared for their upcoming arrival after hosting a special event during the weekend.
Almost 50 volunteers packed into Malvern Hills District Council’s Council Chamber in Avenue Road on Saturday to take part in a training day exercise.
A number of refugees from the war-torn country are expecte to arrive in the county next month or May after council leaders across Worcestershire agreed to make a formal bid to relocate them into the county.
Organised by the campaign group ‘Malvern Welcomes Syrian Refugees’, the day included speeches from delegates from refugee support groups from Bromsgrove, Wyre Forest as well as Malvern and Worcester.
Throughout the day-long event vivid insights were provided on the terrible conditions in the camps in countries bordering Syria and the appaling experiences to which refugees have had to go through.
One of the main aims of the day was to encourage and prepare delegates to run further sessions across the county. Organisers said this was done to help dispel any myths and misunderstandings which persist over Syrian refugees.
Event organiser Ruth Forecast said: “it was an absolutely fantastic day which gave everyone so much to think about and helped prepare the volunteers for the vital role that each will be playing in the months ahead, both in befriending the first few families as they arrive in our area and also in engaging with a range of community groups to win their support and involvement in the resettlement process too.”
Leading Malvern Hills District Councillor Melanie Baker and county councillor Lucy Hodgson also attended the training day stating the role of voluntary groups would be a vital element in the success of the resettlement process.
For more information visit www.malvernwelcomes.org.
