Syrian families to be offered homes

Two more Syrian refugee families could be offfered homes in Stirling.

Five families have already been resettled in the area and Stirling Council is looking to welcome more.

Earlier this year council officials admitted shortage of housing for refugees was a challenge.

In a report due before the council’s community planning committee tomorrow regeneration and wellbeing service manager Lesley Gallagher says: “The numbers of refugee families resettled remains static.

“However, following approval of the refugee resettlement strategic framework at committee in September this year, an additional two properties have been identified.

“Checks with partners have been completed and a submission made to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities with a resettlement offer to identify families who could make Stirling their home.”

In July officials said housing associations and the private rental sector were among options being looked at to find accommodation for more refugees.

Under the UK’s Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme 20,000 refugees were found homes in Britain. Scotland pledged to take in 10 per cent of that figure.

The target was reached in December and includes the five families who arrived in Stirling.

Stirling Council has provided language and skills training for the families.

A Provost’s reception was also held in the summer to welcome them.

During the event one man said: “We have done a lot of good things since we came here. We work on a daily basis to make progress in learning English and looking for a job.

“As a result of the economic situation in Syria before the war most Syrians have a large number of industrial skills.

“They often have more than one job and we have a great desire and motivation to start working here and contribute to the construction of the city of Stirling with our energy and experience.

“We would like to say thank you to all who have helped us achieve integration here so far and thank you to Stirling.”