Salvation Army in London welcomes family fleeing war-torn Syria under Community Sponsorship scheme
by Catherine MALLET
The Salvation Army has welcomed its first refugee family under the Community Sponsorship scheme recently introduced by the UK Government. Fleeing conflict in Syria, the family had lost their home and been identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as being particularly vulnerable and in need of resettlement to the UK. Welcomed under the scheme they will now have the opportunity to rebuild their lives in London, supported by The Salvation Army and its community.
The church and charity has been leading momentum, along with a number of other groups, in supporting the government’s pledge to resettle Syrian refugees through its Community Sponsorship scheme. Merton Council is the first London borough to help welcome a refugee family as part of the scheme.
Major Nick Coke, the Refugee Coordinator for The Salvation Army, said:
‘It has been months in the making – preparing accommodation, looking at schools, identifying access to appropriate medical support and language tuition – but we have never lost sight of our motivation to help resettle a family under this scheme. In November last year we assisted the Home Office in reuniting 44 unaccompanied refugee children from the Calais 'Jungle' with their extended families in Britain. It was one of the most powerful experiences of my life as a Salvation Army officer - watching young people the same age as my son find sanctuary and unconditional welcome. A day has not passed when I haven't thought of the thousands still waiting to reach safety’.
See news articles:
- https://www.christiantoday.com/article/salvation.army.welcomes.vulnerable.homeless.family.of.syrian.refugees.to.london/105461.htm
- http://news.salvationarmy.org.uk/salvation-army-london-welcomes-family-fleeing-war-torn-syria-under-community-sponsorship-scheme
- http://www.forrefugees.uk/the-salvation-army-welcomes-first-syrian-family/