Preston set to welcome refugees in government programme
Five refugee families are to move to Preston as part of the Government's pledge to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020.
The city is to work alongside other areas of Lancashire to take in a minimum of 20 families in the first year of the scheme.
Funding will be delivered by Westminster, with services and care set up for each family.
It was discussed at Preston Council’s latest cabinet meeting, where Town Hall bosses gave approval to enter into a funding agreement between Preston Council, Lancashire County Council and the Home Office, to allow the council to take part in the programme to settle the families in Lancashire.
Preston Council leader Peter Rankin said: “I’m perfectly sure the great majority of people in Preston will welcome this decision.
“There are going to be councils up and down the country that are going to be getting involved in this project, and I feel proud that Preston is in the vanguard.
“Thanks to colleagues and officers for supporting this.” Coun Rankin said the groups would mainly be women and children, who had faced “the most appalling trauma”.
He said: “Many of them have complex needs which is why, as a district council, we are doing this in conjunction with Lancashire County Council and also the Red Cross.”