A concerned councillor has stressed that Dumfries and Galloway families hosting Ukrainian refugees must be given sufficient support to do so.
Dougie Campbell, a former volunteer case worker with the Scottish Refugee Council, is very knowledgeable about the issues refugees face when integrating into a new society after fleeing their war-torn country.
Those who come to Dumfries and Galloway will be given financial support and a roof over their heads thanks to local residents participating in the Homes For Ukraine UK government scheme, or Scottish Government super sponsor scheme.
However, Mr Campbell, councillor for Dee and Glenkens, has asked council officers for reassurance that local residents will be assisted in helping people whose lives had been turned upside down.
Speaking at the latest full council meeting, he said: “Yet again Dumfries and Galloway Council is stepping up to the plate, as are the people that live in our communities.
“Hosting Ukrainians is a scheme like we’ve never seen before and the council is taking a lead role in terms of co-ordinating the other partner agencies.
“And I know that there’s guidance being developed to support hosts and the refugees but can you possibly give us an indication of what the relationship is going to look like between the council, the hosts and the Ukrainian refugees?
“My specific concern is that potentially hosts will find very traumatised Ukrainian refugees in their home.
“Some hosts may feel that they can’t actually cope with that set of circumstances. How would we support the hosts and support the refugees on an ongoing basis?”
Liz Manson, the council’s community planning and engagement officer, replied: “This is very much a topic of discussion
in the national meetings that we’re involved in.
“The Scottish Government is planning to produce some material for the host families – once we know who they are.
“So, there will be basic information material to help and support people. Our understanding is that there’s also going to be a helpline.
“Certainly locally, one of the things we are planning to do is some networking events. In our experience with Syrian refugees, we did have some social events where befrienders came together with their families.
“That worked very well, providing a safe and supportive environment where they could share and talk to each other. There were also officers there from
various agencies.”
