Published: Friday 16th October 2015 | 4.38pm
Cannock Chase Council has volunteered to participate in the vulnerable persons scheme (VPR) and has offered to accept Syrian refugee families, as part of an overall offer confirmed with the West Midlands Migration Partnership.
The Council believes that support to refugee families, rather than single individuals, will enable the best outcome with key partners working together to support the housing/educational/social/language and all other needs of the vulnerable persons within this relocation scheme.
Cllr George Adamson, Leader of the Council said “All local authorities in Staffordshire have been approached by the Home Office to determine whether they are willing to participate in the national relocation scheme for Syrian refugees.
It is not clear whether the offer made for the Staffordshire area will be accepted, and if so when refugees, are likely to be resettled, nevertheless Cannock Chase Council has offered to accept 10 Syrian vulnerable persons.
Private sector landlords have been contacted within the District and the Council are grateful to the offers of support to provide accommodation when needed.
We are also in discussions to ensure that costs are met National Government rather than local Councils.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that 3.8 million Syrians have been forced out of their homes to flee neighbouring countries.
Last year the UNHCR identified 100,000 critical vulnerable refugees most in need of resettlement from the refugee camps in the region.
In January last year, the Government agreed to support the resettlement of Syrian refugees through the vulnerable persons relocation scheme (VPR), where there was a commitment to resettle hundreds of people as a solution to this crisis.
To date 216 Syrian refugees have been resettled in the UK, however the VPR scheme has now been expanded and local authorities are being encouraged to support the programme and welcome refugees into their area.
Cannock Chase Council continues to work with the West Midlands Migration Partnership and other Staffordshire local authorities, but it is not clear at this stage if allocations will definitely be made to the District and if so, when.