Moorside Primary School and Nursery has become a nationally recognised School of Sanctuary after demonstrating an understanding of refugees.

The Schools of Sanctuary programme is a network of over 300 primary and secondary schools committed to supporting refugees in the UK.

Schools join the network if they can prove over a period of time that children learn what it is like to be a refugee and this is embedded in the curriculum in subjects such as  geography, history and religious education.

They are then reassessed on a three-year rolling basis.

Other schools in the Harrogate district to have achieved School of Sanctuary status include Grove Road Community Primary School, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Springwater School, and Outwood Primary Academy Greystone.

Moorside’s award certificate was presented during last week’s national Refugee Week.

Claire Rowett, headteacher at Moorside, said:

“At Moorside, we have established an inclusive and welcoming ethos, where the importance of safety is embedded across the curriculum.

“Learning about people across the world and their contrasting environments and experiences to our own in Ripon, has taught our children that our one rule, to be kind, is not just associated with school, but is a rule for life, and that nobody should feel alone.”

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Schools of Sanctuary is organised by City of Sanctuary UK, an organisation established in 2005 to promote the UK as a welcoming place of safety for all.

Yvonne Jefferies, the lead for Schools of Sanctuary at Ripon City of Sanctuary, which is part of City of Sanctuary UK, said:

“This award is not given lightly. Schools work very hard to demonstrate that they understand what it means to be a refugee and to arrive here in the UK, likely friendless and very anxious.”

Nidderdale Community Welcome has made significant progress as it prepares to bring a refugee family to the Dales.

Sarah Whittington, who heads fundraising for the group, told The Stray Ferret:

“Despite the lockdown, which has prevented us from holding face to face fundraising events, we have already received more than £3,000 in donations.”

The community group has an initial target of £9,000 to raise to support a refugee family’s relocation in Nidderdale and Sarah, pointed out:

“We are encouraged, not only by the kindness of donors, but also their generosity of spirit.

“Many have seen in the media the desperate plight of refugees in war-torn countries such as Syria and want to help.

“As well as money, we have received messages from people saying they are proud to be living in a compassionate community.”

To be involved in the Home Office-backed programme, Nidderdale Community Welcome has to prepare everything that will be needed to support the refugee family.

This includes finding a house that they can rent and providing tuition in speaking English.

In addition, the family will be given help to apply for benefits, find employment and access medical help, schools and transport.

The objective is to help them to become self-sufficient members of the Nidderdale community.

To obtain refugee status in this country any family would have to prove that they were forced to flee their country because of persecution, war or violence.

Attaining refugee status means they are entitled to the same help and welfare as anyone else living here.

Nidderdale Community Welcome is working in partnership with the charity Catholic Care Leeds, which will take ultimate responsibility for the agreement with the Home Office.

From a war-torn country to the pastoral peace of the countryside – Nidderdale is extending a welcoming hand to a refugee family

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In the meantime, Sarah, Peter Wright and other members of the steering group are making plans for virtual fundraising activities, including a mega online quiz and silent auction. As the covid restrictions eventually lift, face to face fundraising events will be planned.

Sarah, said:

“During lockdown the launch of our website has provided a means for donations to be made and news to be shared.

“It has given us a channel for seeking translators and people with other skills or services that they are willing to donate.”

She added:

“We hope that the network we are building through the website, will help us to find a community-minded landlord.

“We have begun our search for a suitable three-bedroom property in Pateley Bridge.”

Further details are available at nc-welcome.org

More than 40 people attended an online meeting this week to discuss bringing a refugee family to Nidderdale.

Peter Wright, a long-time supporter of refugee causes, organised the meeting from his Ramsgill home.

He told the Stray Ferret the response was “brilliant”:

“There is clearly a genuine and solid base of support, which will help us to get Nidderdale Community Welcome off the ground.

“In addition to the valuable input that people made, we discovered that we have in our area many of the skills and competences required to turn the idea of welcoming a refugee family into our community a reality.”

The bid to welcome a refugee family to Nidderdale has moved a step closer.

A number of people involved in similar community organisations in their areas joined the meeting.

Nicola David, chair of Ripon City of Sanctuary, which was established in 2015, was also present.

The sanctuary provides practical support and encouragement for two Syrian families who have resettled in Ripon.

Ms David said:

“It was a very encouraging meeting and we will do all we can to assist the Nidderdale group in achieving its goals, through sharing information and the experience that we have gained.

“Refugees are ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and it is inspirational to see that even at a time of lockdown, communities are ready to help them.”

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There are approximately 80 million displaced people around the world, of which 26 million are refugees. The government initially agreed for up to 10,000 to be resettled in the UK.

Community sponsorship organisations have to prepare everything that might be needed for families to become self-sufficient members of their new community, as required in detailed plans set out by the Home Office.

This includes safeguarding, learning English, applying for relevant benefits, accessing medical help, schools, transport, finding work and having support from translators.

To obtain refugee status the families have already been closely vetted, entitling them to the same help and welfare as anyone else living in the UK. The community group needs to raise at least £9,000 to ensure additional needs are met.

The group has to have either charitable status or a partnership with an existing charity, such as Catholic Care Leeds, which takes ultimate responsibility for the agreement with the Home Office and provides experience, governance and safeguarding training and support.

Further information is available by contacting wrightpandh@gmail.com