THE first Syrian refugee families will arrive in Gloucestershire before Christmas.

It follows the government’s commitment to taking in 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years.

The first family will arrive in Gloucester on December 15 with two more being housed in Cheltenham before Christmas.
 
The Gloucester based charity GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers), who have been working with refugees and asylum seekers in the county since 1999, will be supporting councils with the moves.
 
Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We have been working closely with the district councils and GARAS to see how we could respond to the government’s commitment to bring the first families out of the refugee camps before Christmas.

“As a result our county will be receiving three families in mid-December. The first family will come to Gloucester, with the second and third to Cheltenham.  

“This is the early stages of the government’s commitment and we would expect to receive more families as time passes.

“Gloucestershire is united in its support, and I have been really impressed with how positively everyone has responded. Councillors, staff, local people - we are all in this together, to help change the lives of those fleeing the horrific events in Syria.”

Adele Owen, director of GARAS, said; “Gloucestershire has a long history of helping those most in need, and we’ve been working in the county for 16 years to help refugees and asylum seekers coming to our towns and cities.
 
“I am pleased that the councils and other partner organisations, including faith groups, are coming together to work in unison to help welcome the people who have suffered horribly in their home countries.”