CALDERDALE Council has pledged to welcome 50 Syrian refugees to the district over the next two years as part of a resettlement programme being co-ordinated by Migration Yorkshire.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Tim Swift (pictured) confirmed that the authority had agreed on a cross-party bases to play their part.

"In Calderdale we have offered to take 50 Syrian refugees, which will be adults and families with children. We’re now making sure that all the necessary arrangements, such as housing and school places, are ready in time for their arrival over the coming months, so that they can settle quickly into their new life here.

“We’re also working with St Augustine’s Centre in Halifax, which is the main voluntary sector provider of support for refugees in Calderdale. It provides a welcoming and safe place for people, some of whom have been through unimaginable experiences, and offers them a lifeline as they begin to adjust to life in a new community."

The re-settlement scheme will be funded out of the Government’s overseas aid budget and will cover health and school costs, and the Council's cabinet will consider what support can be given to its voluntary sector partners at a meeting next month.

To donate to the St Augustine's Centre, visit give.net/20171078.