Newark and Sherwood District Council and partner organisations help Syrian refugee families resettle in the district

Partnership work to resettle Syrian refugee families in Newark and Sherwood has been ‘highly commended’ at a prestigious national awards ceremony.

Officers and volunteers from Newark and Sherwood District Council and partner organisations from the Newark and Sherwood Resettlement Partnership received the accolade in London on Wednesday night (June 26).

Judges in the Municipal Journal Achievement Awards 2019 Transforming Lives category praised how the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement (SVPR) programme had been implemented in the district, commending the strong partnership work, passion and innovation of those involved.

The district council has worked particularly closely with community and voluntary sector partners including Home Start, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum, the Furniture Project, Support for Syrian Refugees in addition to other statutory partners.

The council’s business manager for housing, health and community relations, Leanne Monger, said: “I am so proud and honoured to work with such amazing people and absolutely delighted that our partnership work has been highly commended.

It recognises the hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and warmth of the partnership in transforming the lives of people who have experienced the most traumatic of circumstances and how the local community has embraced and welcomed these families with open arms and open minds.

“The refugees that we have helped to resettle are the most vulnerable of families, all with very young children who arrived with very few belongings, having lived in conditions we could not even imagine in western society. They have a new life now and are so keen to make a contribution to society and become part of the community here in Newark and Sherwood.”

The Newark and Sherwood Resettlement Partnership was set up to provide the necessary, dedicated support that met the needs of each refugee family which included providing suitable housing in safe neighbourhoods, support to develop English skills to aid integration and provide a pathway to suitable employment, allowing them to achieve future independence and brighter futures.

The district council initially pledged to accommodate ten families. This comprised of 49 individuals; 21 of whom were adults and 28 children.

Two further families are due to arrive under the current resettlement programme.

No decisions have been made on whether more will be accepted into the district in the future with further guidance expected from the Government.

Leanne Monger said: "For a small market town like Newark with a 97% white-British population, and little diversity, the Syrian resettlement has created an interest in the new culture, particularly within local schools and has inspired further development of integration activities within communities.

"All those involved tell how it has enhanced their lives.

"One Conversation Group volunteer is a retired lady with a disability who felt that she had little purpose in life but this project has, in her words, ‘changed my life’ ­— a sentiment shared by many in the community.

"With the support from Support for Syrian Refugees the families worked with a local restaurant to prepare, serve Syrian food for 85 guests at a Taste of Syria Fundraising Evening and gave an emotional presentation regarding their life in Syria and Lebanon.

"The council has also worked with partners to provide work experience opportunities which has helped them ‘give back’ to the community and get to know the area while improving their English to enhance their future employment opportunities."