Meeting considers Syrian vulnerable persons relocation scheme

Meeting considers Syrian vulnerable persons relocation scheme

A multi-agency group which is considering Pembrokeshire’s approach to the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (SVPR) scheme held their second meeting on Thursday, 30th June.

The group includes representatives from Pembrokeshire County Council, Dyfed Powys Police, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Jobcentre Plus, Pembrokeshire College and PAVS.

The Chair of the group is Cllr Alison Lee, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and the Voluntary Sector.

The SVPR scheme is a Home Office programme which intends to resettle some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees in the UK.

All refugees go through a rigorous vetting programme by the Home Office before arrival in the UK.

The refugees being resettled are ordinary people who have lost their homes due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, and have been taken straight from refugee camps in Syria. The programme is fully funded by the Home Office.

At the first meeting of the multi-agency group in April, the partner agencies were asked to undertake a scoping exercise in relation to the SVPR scheme, to determine the location and extent of current services in Pembrokeshire, and to identify where there were gaps in provision.

The results of the scoping exercise were presented to the meeting. Partners have been asked to examine further implications before their next meeting in August.

No decisions were made on how Pembrokeshire will be engaging with the scheme.

Partners heard that similar schemes are already underway in other areas in Wales. Ceredigion has set an indicative figure of 10 individuals per year over the five year period, while Carmarthenshire has pledged to resettle between 50 and 60 families over the next 5 years.

An update report on the scheme was presented to the Council’s Cabinet meeting on 4th July. Cabinet noted the progress made and the need to engage with community groups as the Pembrokeshire scheme develops.

A further report will be presented to Cabinet in September.