Syrian families doing well in the Borders

Shona Haslam, leader of Scottish Borders Council

Scottish Borders Council has welcomed 10 Syrian families who were fleeing the brutal Assad regime since 2015, according to a recent council report.

The families, who have reportedly settled with children in the region’s schools, were among 20,000 of the most vulnerable refugees fleeing the conflict in their home country, to resettle in the UK through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS).

The council has received almost £700,000 to help welcome the families, paid by the Home Office over the last five years.

In August last year, the local authority agreed to continue to engage with the resettlement scheme, with a view to taking an additional 10 families in the future.

Shona Haslam, leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: “It is an absolute privilege to welcome these families to the Borders.

"We have a duty as a society to protect those who are fleeing danger.

“Scottish Borders Council has been working hard to ensure they feel welcome and their integration into our communities has been excellent.

“Giving access to English language skills, funding a dedicated Arabic-speaking support worker, and providing extra support in our classrooms is just some of the things we have done to help the transition.

“Their experiences in Syria during the conflict will have been terrifying.

"I hope the families feel happy and safe here in the Borders and continue to make their home here for years to come.”