Welcoming group for refugees

Rona Mackay is helping to organise the welcoming party

Twechar Health and Living Enterprise Centre (THLEC) along with Rona Mackay MSP is arranging the community team to help integrate and welcome the new Scots.

East Dunbartonshire Council gave the rubber-stamp to resettle four  Syrian families and four children from the now defunct migrant camp in Calais, The Jungle.

Ms Mackay has welcomed plans but has insisted the council must speed up plans for the intake, and that the  region is well equipped to welcome more.

The Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP said: “I am proud to be part of welcoming people from miserable, war-torn existence into East Dunbartonshire.

“The conditions and experiences these children and families have gone through can only be described as a nightmare.

“I hope East Dunbartonshire Council will get a move on with these plans because time is of the essence when it comes to helping these very vulnerable people.”

Sandra Sutton, community secretary of THLEC, added: “The welcoming group will  be a community effort to  make sure the refugees settle in well.

“I have helped with refugees in Clydebank, Govan, Cumbernauld and many other places in Scotland – to get them jobs, language skills, integrated and active in the community.

“At Twechar Health and Living Enterprise Centre, we’re hoping to do the same with those coming to East Dunbartonshire.”

Council Leader Rhondda Geekie said, “We have  committed to welcoming  families and unaccompanied children to East Dunbartonshire .

“We are progressing this through the Home Office Syrian Resettlement Programme, and it  is this scheme which will  identify the people who will be settled here.

“We will co-ordinate a full support package to meet their needs.

“We will help them build their new lives after the difficulties and challenges they have faced.

“Negotiations are being  co-ordinated with colleagues in Cosla, and there will be a further update at our Council meeting next month.”