‘Many reasons for slow uptake’

THE government’s maligned Homes for Ukraine scheme has seen just 36 people arrive in the borough as of late June.

There have been 66 successful visa applications compared to 55 in May.

The scheme allows residents to volunteer to house refugees fleeing Russia’s war on Ukraine for at least six months, with visas valid for work and study for up to three years.

“There’s no question when you compare Barnsley’s figures to other areas, the uptake has not been as big as comparable areas,” said Coun Greenhough.

“It’s difficult to speculate on why – a lot of areas in Barnsley are suffering deprivation, there’s an inflation crisis and cost-ofliving crisis, plus the size of properties.

“But this feeds down from central government – when you see the government discriminate with the refugees it’s willing to take in.

“The policy towards Ukrainians is completely different to the policy towards Syrians.

“They’re both in the same boat, they’re both fleeing persecution and in a lot of cases the threat of death, but the government has decided to enact one policy for one group and one for another.”

An outpouring of support for the wartorn country has also seen truckloads of supplies sent to neighbouring Poland from Barnsley.

Barnsley was forged through international migration – a Jewish community from Poland was established in the early 1900s, while links with Romany gypsies likely go back much further.

Hundreds of Polish servicemen and women settled in the town after the Second World War, establishing a community that led to the formation of schools, the Polish Club – now the Old School House – and more recently the Polska Biblioteka (Polish Library).

In the mid-20th century, the town became twinned with the German town Schwabisch-Gmund and Horlivka in Ukraine – leading to regular visits and sharing of knowledge.

“The population of Barnsley is becoming far more multicultural, which has got to be a benefit,” said Coun Greenhough.

“There are pockets of racism, there’s no getting away from it – we’ve come across it dealing with the refugees – but it’s far from endemic.

“People from Barnsley have proven themselves to be more than generous towards people of other nationalities – and the Ukraine situation is case in point.”