Strathkelvin MSP and community centre organise welcoming group for refugees from war-torn Syria

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.”