Dear friend and supporter
Our biggest message today is a massive THANK YOU for all of your care, concern and interest over the past year – for coming forward, for stepping up and for joining in. For following us, and for taking an interest in the plight of refugees. For your support, your help, your encouragement, and for your ideas; for your donations and your funding.
Below you’ll find an important news round-up. However, we’d also like to wish you, in these most challenging of times, a very safe, warm and comfortable Christmas – and the ability to celebrate with the ones you love. Please email us if you have any queries or can offer your support.
New families are here!
3 Syrian families (one of them Kurdish) came to Ripon in November and all three of them already seem very motivated to get stuck into life in the UK.
Several are already studying for their driving theory test, and they’re teaching themselves as much English as they can before their lessons start officially in January. They are keen to work, and there’s interest in starting yoga, riding bicycles, and learning the guitar!
Our secondary schools
As part of their journey towards becoming a School of Sanctuary, both of Ripon’s secondary schools have done something lovely this Christmas:
Outwood Academy generously donated and wrapped a gift for every refugee child in Ripon aged 1 to 17.
Ripon Grammar School (pictured) held a non-uniform day in support of RCoS and raised over £900 for our general funds.
Update on Community Sponsorship
This is where we resettle a family ourselves (rather than the government doing it). We’re delighted to say that things have been going very well indeed. As you may know, the generosity of the people of Ripon means we will be able to bring TWO families to safety and opportunity here. We are still fundraising, so you can donate here!
We had found two lovely flats close to town, with a wonderfully supportive landlord, but sadly the police did not approve the address (known offender living nearby). However, within 24 hours, two other equally supportive landlords came forward so it’s full steam ahead now. The police have approved those addresses, and now we’re just waiting for Harrogate Borough Council to inspect the houses early in January. Then it’s all down to UNHCR and the Home Office, but we think we’ll be welcoming at least one family by early April. We know you’ll want to support these families so please stay tuned!
Christmas for the families
Many people have asked us whether the families celebrate Christmas. In fact they do (but not quite as we do). If you were in the Middle East in December, you’d see Christmas trees everywhere. Jesus has a significant part in Islam, and his story includes the virgin birth and the angel Gabriel’s announcement, for example.
This year, a member of staff at Queen Mary’s School has given up her own Christmas Day to welcome all 6 families to the school. They’ll be able to walk around the estate, see the horses, and enjoy refreshments in front of a roaring log fire. The gifts generously donated by Outwood Academy and the Watermark Gallery in Harrogate will also be distributed to the children.
The ‘anti-refugee bill’
Campaign to Lift the Ban
After a 3-year review, the government has nonsensically decided to continue banning asylum-seekers from having the right to work, despite the many valid arguments presented by the #LiftTheBan coalition (RCoS is a member). Even the Times criticised the decision, and the Independent says the Home Office is misleading the public and failed to evidence its decision.
2022’s clothing fundraiser
We’ve been talking to our sister-group, Wakefield District City of Sanctuary, which is one of the centres where we deliver clothing donated by our supporters. Each year we do a fundraiser for them, too, to buy items they particularly need. In 2020 it was for warm jackets; in 2021 it was for new underwear. For 2022 they’ve requested new trainers, so do watch out a trainer campaign some time in the summer – and please don’t throw away any new trainers you don’t need!
Support from organisations
We are thrilled to have been chosen as Ripon Rotary’s Charity of the Year, and we have also just been selected as one of Holy Trinity Church Ripon’s mission partners.
If your business, church or community organisation would like to extend support of any kind, or have any exciting ideas, please get in touch! We will gladly have an initial chat with you one on one, or do a talk for your organisation.
More families in 2022?
Although the government scrapped its resettlement targets this year (as part of the intensifying self-declared ‘hostile environment for refugees’), NYCC continues to be committed to resettling refugees in our region. The resettlement manager at NYCC recognises that there is strong volunteer and community support for refugees in Ripon, and will actively look to place at least one more family with us in 2022. However, it will all come down to logistics.