Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Top award for Syrian resettlement group
Members of the Syrian resettlement project team at North Lanarkshire Co u n c i l wo n the prestigious team of the year prize at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s (CIH) annual awards ceremony.
It comes a year after a first group of 43 refugees fleeing the country’s civil war were welcomed to new homes in Airdrie and Coatbridge; later followed by a similar number who have settled in Motherwell and Bellshill.
The project team involves housing, social work and other council services, and representatives from NHS Lanarkshire, police and fire services, housing associations and voluntary organisations.
Its staff provide a wide range of support and advice to families, including enrolling children in school, applying for benefits and dealing with tenancies and utilities, registering with doctors and dentists, and helping them get to know their new home area – as well as supporting their physical and emotional needs and making referrals as required to more specialist services.
A group of senior officials from the Home Office attended an English class for refugees in Airdrie – and praised North Lanarkshire as an example of best practice across the UK.
Syrian resettlement programme chair Councillor Pat O’Rourke said: “I’m very proud of this project and absolutely delighted that the dedication and commitment to the resettlement of refugees in North Lanarkshire, and the excellent work of staff, have been recognised at this level.
“The aim of integrating the refugees into our communities has been embraced wholeheartedly, with all tasks approached with integrity, energy and determination to ensure the refugees have every opportunity of creating a future here.”
Housing convener Councillor Barry McCulloch added: “As well as the formal recognition of this award, we’ve also received extremely positive responses from the refugees themselves and their experience of settling in to North Lanarkshire communities.
“This is what makes everything we do worthwhile and allows us to be proud of the positive difference we’re making to people’s lives.”
Entries were judged by a panel of industry experts, with the prizes being presented at the CIH’s excellence awards ceremony in Glasgow; and winners have been invited to a Parliamentary reception to mark the Institute’s centenary.
Community groups have played an important part in welcoming the refugee families, with local residents volunteering as befrienders and to help adults to practice their language skills
Gareth Bayley, the UK’s special representative for Syria was among the first to praise last year’s announcement that North Lanarkshire would be among the “first tranche” of Scottish councils to welcome a group of Syrian refugees, in support of the Scottish Government’s commitment to accommodate 2000 people affected by war.
Mr Bayley, who is originally from Plains, said at that time: “This news makes me proud to be an Airdrieonian.
“Airdrie and Coatbridge have a proud tradition of welcoming people to the community, and I know [ the refugees] will be determined to build a better future for themselves and the communities who welcome them.”