Liberals work for refugees
KINGSTON LIBERAL Synagogue members are working with other local faith communities to sponsor refugee families as part of a government scheme.
They are involved in Kingston Community Refugee Sponsorship, which will be seeking Home Office approval to bring a vulnerable refugee family to the area.
A launch event was attended by the new Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Thay Thayalan, who pledged his support.
Under the community sponsorship scheme, the government identifies families who are particularly vulnerable, for example, because of serious health problems. Charities such as KCRS will then locate suitable accommodation and support a family for two years, helping integration into British life.
Kingston Liberal Synagogue’s Professor Vince Daly is chairing KCRS. He first became interested in the scheme through honorary membership of South London Liberal Synagogue, which is working with a refugee welcome group organised by Citizens UK.
It had showed him “how much can be achieved when faith communities collaborate in their pursuit of social justice. It’s exciting to put this into practice in the Kingston Community Refugee Sponsorship charity. I hope this is a first step towards building a Citizens UK alliance in Kingston.”
A number of churches are involved in KCRS, which is also supported by local Muslims. ETZ CHAIM Synagogue in Leeds has an unlikely new member. A few weeks ago, a peacock turned up at its premises and has been there ever since. Rabbis and administrators have been feeding the bird, which sleeps in a tree in the car park and ventures out to take a closer look at visitors to the building.
The shul has contacted the RSPCA, nearby Harewood House, which has a bird garden, and the police but no one has reported a missing peacock.
Much can be achieved through working together’