NORTH Yorkshire has resettled 184 refugees from Syria and vulnerable children and their families from other areas who have suffered major traumatic events in their own countries.

The county council, working with seven district authorities, has offered homes, education, health care and training to the victims.

The scheme is part of the Governments promise to resettle 20,000 people in Britain through the Syrian Vulnerable People’s programme. and a further 3,000 refugees being offered help across the country through the Vulnerable Children’s Rehabilitation scheme, specifically for children who are at risk.

Jonathan Spencer, Project Manager for North Yorkshire Refugee Resettlement submitted a report on the latest situation to North Yorkshire County Council’s scrutiny committee.

He said that the scheme works alongside support provided by the Refugee Council and that up to 40 per cent of the refugees have complex needs, some caring for disabled children or youngsters with life limiting illnesses.

Local authorities earmarked 35 properties to house the refugees, in a combination of social, council and private rented properties.

So far Craven, Harrogate, Selby, Ryedale and Scarborough districts have housed their agreed numbers – with Hambleton and Richmondshire due to take in refugees from the first half of 2018.

Mr Spencer said: “Experience has shown that where the bulk of families can be resettled from one flight within a district it provides a stronger network for the families there. It is also easier to manage resources than having arrivals stretched out across several flights. The local housing supply including suitability of an area to resettle the families ultimately determines this however.”

Caseworkers are nominated through the Refugee Council for each family in the first year with support continuing across all aspects of their new life to help them to work towards independence over five years.

Mr Spencer added: "On a day-to-day basis the Refugee Council has assisted with resolving issues relating to the families, and provided partners with general advice and knowledge gained from resettlement elsewhere in the region and nationally.

“Some resettled refugees have begun to get involved in the local community by themselves already, but others are at risk of being isolated and less confident. There are a number of good examples of individuals and communities in North Yorkshire working together with the resettlement agencies to support refugee integration in the county, helping the families to feel part of the community in which they live.”