An appeal has been launched to raise the funds needed to resettle a refugee family in Eden.
More than £4,000 has already been raised for a community sponsorship scheme which aims to support a refugee family to settle into the Kirkby Stephen community.
Spearheaded by a small group of friends, the project has won the full support of more than 20 organisations operating in the Upper Eden area.
A suitable three-bedroom flat in the town centre has been secured and an appeal has now been launched to raise the £9,000 which is required by the Home Office, working in partnership with RESET and Caritas Salford.
Mike Sunderland, who is the Kirkby Stephen resettlement group lead, said: “Most of us watch the news, see the plight of the world’s refugees and switch of the TV and climb into our comfortable, clean, safe and cosy beds as we feel helpless to do anything.
“However, this scheme will allow the community to take positive action, welcome and help a family resettle and start to build a life in Kirkby Stephen.”
He added: “We could wait for the politicians and governments to resolve the issues of refugees, but by taking action as a community we can make a positive difference to a single refugee family helping them rebuild their lives in Kirkby Stephen with education for the children, health care, learning English, and gaining employment.”
The group has 10 registered volunteers at present, but the hope is that more will come forward to help support the family with all the necessary appointments which will help them adjust to life in Eden, from school introductions and shopping to registering with the local health centre and opening a bank account.
It is hoped all the volunteers will gain tremendous satisfaction by being involved with the resettlement project, while young people in the community will get the opportunity to learn about and get a better understanding of a different culture and the value of life.
A spokesman for the group said: “We feel we can make a difference by focusing on just one family, forced to flee their home country in fear of their lives, to become refugees in another.
“With the support of our community, we can offer security, hope and a brighter future to that family, who will have experienced significant fear, trauma and horror.
”Working alongside Caritas Salford, the group have great confidence in success, as Caritas is very experienced with community sponsorship applications and, working closely with the Home Office, has already settled a number of refugee families in the north of England.“
We are being guided and supported all the way,” the group spokesman added.
To donate, visit the JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/campaign/KirkbyStephen
A fundraising plan is also being drawn up which could include an auction of promises and other sponsored events.
