Cash boost for charity working with refugees
A Stirling charity which helps refugees integrate into the community has received a boost of almost £80,000 in lottery funding.
Forth Valley Welcome was set up in late 2015 to assist Stirling Council in welcoming Syrian families during the height of the refugee crisis.
The funding will be spread over three years and help to provide the charity with a new support worker to recruit and manage volunteers.
The grant comes under the Big Lottery’s ‘Improving Lives’ programme.
Treasurer for Forth Valley Welcome Hugh Grant said the cash would enable them to employ support worker Avril Hunter long term and help recruit and manage the many volunteers they need.
“In Clackmannanshire especially we need more volunteers to make sure every family has at least one volunteer visitor as well as visits from Avril herself,” he added.
To obtain the funding the charity had to show they were working with the Syrian families individually to prepare plans to help them integrate and improve upon their English skills.
Mr Grant added: “Many of the Syrians had good jobs back in Syria and were keen to get into employment here when their English was good enough.”
Since 2015, Stirling and Clackmannanshire councils have provided homes for 25 refugee families.
This work is carried out under a UK Government re-settlement scheme, which helps vulnerable people from camps in countries such as Jordan,
While the council provides basic items for Syrians’ homes, Forth Valley Welcome hand over extra items that “help to turn the house into a home” such as soft furnishings and children’s toys.
“These are families who left their homes under attack from Syrian armed forces so had to leave most of their possessions behind”, said Mr Grant.
The charity has branched out since its inception and now works across Forth Valley supporting councils in resettling refugees. Patrons of the group include former Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire MP Sir George Reid.
Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford said: “I understand that the money will be used to fund an additional support worker, which is a vital role in ensuring that families and individuals, who are refugees to this country, are given the help they need to settle and feel welcome.
“Organisations like Forth Valley Welcome help to promote Scotland as a welcoming and compassionate society. I wish them the very best.”
Stirling MP Stephen Kerr added: “I was delighted to hear about this award. This charity does great work across the Forth Valley and their support worker in Clackmannanshire will now be supported for three years due to this announcement.”
Forth Valley Welcome is currently looking for more volunteers, if you would be interested contact forthvalleywelcome@outlook.com.