Council in touch with Syrian refugees
Syrian refugees are being contacted every two days by East Ayrshire Council to make sure they are safe during the Covid- 19 crisis.
East Ayrshire Council has released an update on support it is providing to minority communities during the pandemic.
T h e re i s g rowi n g evidence that the deadly virus is disproportionately impacting black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in the UK.
An East Ayrshire bi- lingual official is available over the phone to support Syrian refugees when needed.
The council has found homes for 56 people from the war- torn country including 26 adults and 30 children.
Alyia Zaheed, corporate officer for equality and diversity at the council, said: “Since the onset of the Covid- 19 restrictions we’ve kept in close touch with everyone in our communities. We are in contact remotely with our Syrian refugee families every other day, and have been providing advice and assistance where required.
” Translated materials and useful e- mail links have also been forwarded on to our families where appropriate. At the moment we have no real concerns about our families, although going forward this may change as the weeks progress.”
The Muslim community in Ayrshire are taking part in Ramadan prayers online since the Mosque closure.
The Cat Protection Branch South Ayrshire is asking members of the public to dig deep and help out by giving cash donations.
The organisation’s funds have started to dry up in the wake of the UK lockdown and the measures put in place have prevented them from employing their usual method of fundraising.
Members are usually out fundraising at one event every month such as village fetes, cattle shows or pop- up shops.
And it’s at all these events where the group can generate support worth between £ 8000 and £ 10,000 annually.
However, with the UK lockdown, coupled with strict social distancing in place, the group has found it difficult to make ends meet.
They are issuing a direct message to big hearted members of the publicplease help us.
Linda Tillson, from Ayr, is one of the organisation’s fosterers and said: “The purpose of the new fundraising initiative is to try and raise funds whilst our branch is closed, which stops us from doing any fundraising events to bring in much needed funds.