Refugees Welcome event takes place in Oswestry

Members of the Shropshire Council private enterprise company IP&E supported the Refugees Welcome in Oswestry event in Festival Square, Oswestry on Saturday and Shropshire Council Leader, Cllr Keith Barrow also attended to show his support for the campaign to encourage the community to help refugees when they arrive.

The IP&E team erected a 'wishing line' and 'pledge line' where local people could write down their hopes, fears and pledge offers of help and peg them up. They also came armed with 'myth buster' leaflets to help people understand the difference between migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and their respective statutory entitlements. The overwhelming majority of people who stopped to talk and take away information were positive about the UK and in particular Oswestry welcoming genuine refugees fleeing war-torn Syria.

“Naturally, there was some negativity and also some very valid concerns about impact on housing and services, which the ip&e team were able to answer, but the vast majority of people were desperate to help in whatever way they could,” said organiser Jools Payne.

Jools added: "It was a hugely uplifting morning. There is enormous compassion for the plight of the Syrian refugees and it was heartwarming to see so many people record and verbalise their genuine desire to help. People pledged small but important acts of kindness like simply extending the hand of friendship to refugee families when they arrive, to professionals willing to help deal with the trauma they will have suffered. Pledges like free hairdressing, alternative therapy treatments, professional counselling, art therapy, music therapy, help with shopping, there were even people generously offering accommodation in their homes. People’s generosity is incredibly moving.

“Some great suggestions also came in like encouraging local schools to adopt a buddy system for refugee children and community cooking events to mutually understand cultures and cuisine. Oswestry singing teacher Kate Allan and her wild singing group did a solidarity sing for Syrians at lunchtime, which was uplifting. Oswestrians truly showed their warmth and humanity on Saturday.”

CHALK CIC raised £166 towards their trip to deliver aid items to the refugee camp in Calais next month from public donations and sales of ‘I am Hamsa’ T-shirts and track suit bottoms donated by The Jools Payne Partnership. Other organisations pledging help include Honeypots Gift Emporium in Church Street, The Willow Gallery in Willow Street and Oswestry Library.

Any Oswestry business wishing to register interest in volunteering services or staff to act as community liaison mentors should contact Oswestry Chamber Chairman, Jools Payne, at the Oswestry Chamber of Commerce by emailing info@oswestrychamber.org.uk or call 01691 680717 for more information.