Migrants forum to expand

A CHARITY set up to support migrants living in Fife will expand its service to Dundee after being “inundated” with calls from EU citizens struggling to secure their settled status before Brexit.

Fife Migrants Forum helps foreign nationals living or working in the region and as well as offering a translation service in more than 20 languages, the organisation has been busy helping EU citizens apply to remain in the UK.

The charity offers services in Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline but recently set up a clinic every Tuesday at St John’s Parish Church in Cupar to help deal with demand. It will have a further open session at St Andrews University on February 20.

The charity has also confirmed a full-day clinic will be held at St Joseph’s Church in Dundee due to a reported lack of services in the area, with city residents now offered the chance to book an appointment for the visit or attend the Kirkcaldy office directly.

Dundee has a large contingent of EU migrants and it is expected Angus, where Europeans play a key role in supporting the local workforce, could also see large numbers apply for settled status.

Fife Migrants Forum has urged those who may need help to get in touch as soon as possible as its Home Office grant will run out on March 31 this year.

Manager Justyna Majewska said: “Help is really needed in Dundee because at the moment there are no other services.”

HUNDREDS of pounds donated by mourners at a Dundee United fanatic’s funeral will go towards helping sick children.

Steven Ferrier died at Strathcarron Hospice in Denny, Stirlingshire, last month after a long battle with cancer.

Steven wanted the money raised at his funeral to go towards a charity inspired by a Dundee tot who required lifesaving surgery at just a day old because of a rare genetic condition.

Douglas toddler Paul Heffell was born in October 2018 with a rare condition that resulted in an enlarged heart that required immediate surgery.

He was delivered seven weeks early and only hours after birth the doctors found he also had tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) and oesophageal atresia (OA), rare congenital conditions of the oesophagus, commonly known as the foodpipe, as well as his trachea.

It is a condition that affects only one in every 3,500 babies.

A collection taken at Steven’s funeral raised more than £900 for Tofs, a charity which helps kids born with an under-developed oesophagus.

Paul’s gran Lynn Mcnicol said:

“We are so grateful to everyone who donated so generously for the charity.

“It is such a truly worthwhile charity for babies born unable to swallow.

“The charity is non-government funded and this help will be invaluable.”

Lynn said Paul still faces a lot of challenges in the future but he is doing well at the moment and should enjoy a normal life as he grows older.

She said he is now well enough to start nursery one day a week and went for the first time on Friday.

Steven’s widow Rachael said: “The collection for Tofs at the service raised £927.

“I want to thank everyone so much for their generosity.

“That’s a lot of cash for a wee charity which will benefit many bairns born with the condition.”

Steven was given his devastating terminal cancer diagnosis in September 2017 and started to organise his own funeral, which was held on January 25.

Later that day a minute’s applause took place in his honour before his beloved team’s match against Greenock Morton at Tannadice.