
There was a meeting held at Penistone Leisure Centre on Tuesday, for people concerned about the crisis in Ukraine. As a community run centre, we felt we needed to support the Ukranian communities that are being torn apart.
The general feeling was that we wanted to welcome some Ukranian refugees to Penistone as a community. By doing it together, we can support both the host families and the Ukranian refugees better. Being a host is a huge commitment – for at least 6 months, but potentially for up to 3 years, and the more people who get involved, the better it will work.
There were 9-10 people who expressed an interest in hosting a family, and another 20 who could provide additional support – from this meeting alone. The people present liked the idea of encouraging a group of people from a town/village to come to Penistone, which would mean families and friends could stay together even if they weren’t in the same house.
Following on from the meeting, the Facebook page run by ‘Penistone Refugee and Asylum Seekers Support Group‘ has been made live, and a a Facebook group also created, so interested people can discuss what to do next.. Richard from Elbow Room Graphics is making a website called ‘Penistone Welcomes Refugees’ with a signing up form, so you can let the group know how you can help. This might be hosting a family, taking a family out in the daytime, offering some useful skills or raising money – or anything else you can think of.
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