Councils unite to offer support to people fleeing war in Ukraine

Councils in Staffordshire have united to offer their support to people fleeing the war in Ukraine – and are urging the government to make this as easy as possible.

In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel, leaders at Staffordshire County Council and all eight district and borough councils have said they stand ‘ready and able’ to welcome families seeking refuge from the horrors of war.

Around 2 million people have fled the war in Ukraine so the letter urges the Prime Minister to clear bureaucracy and clear the path so the families who urgently need assistance can get it.

Councils in Staffordshire have already welcomed refugees from Syria and Afghanistan in recent years, and are now waiting for more information

Leader of Staffordshire County Council Alan White said:

“We have all been horrified by the events which have unfolded in Ukraine and as a county stand with those affected.

“As a county council and as a county we have a proud history of helping those who have had no choice but to flee war or persecution, having recently welcomed almost 200 men, women and child evacuees from Afghanistan and are supporting many of the children in Staffordshire schools as the families try to rebuild new lives here in the UK.

“The latest situation in Ukraine is no different; we stand ready to offer Ukrainian refugees a warm welcome to our county should our help be needed, and are urging the government to clear any barriers so we can help those who desperately need it.”

Leader of Lichfield District Council Doug Pullen added:

“We welcome the Government’s recent action against the Putin regime, but we must now do more. Lichfield, along with the other councils in Staffordshire, stands ready to do out bit to help those in Ukraine who need it the most.

“We have the skills, the authority and the willingness to assist in housing and supporting families seeking refuge from the horrors of war. We are now calling on the Government to remove whatever bureaucracy they can, and ease the way for us to be able to use our skills and resources to help these people.”

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The Letter:

For the Attention of The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP and Home Secretary, the Rt Hon Priti Patel MP

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Dear Prime Minister

As the world has watched the horrific events unfold in Ukraine, citizens living in free and democratic countries have considered how they can best play their part in assisting with this unfolding crisis.

We welcome the actions taken so far by this Government against the Putin regime, and are proud to see that President Zelensky counts the United Kingdom amongst his greatest allies. But we must now do more.

We write to you as Staffordshire local authority leaders to let you know we stand ready and able to welcome those displaced by war in Europe. We have the skills, the authority and the willingness to assist in housing and supporting families seeking refuge from the horrors of war, and urge you to clear the bureaucratic path as quickly as possible for those families seeking safe passage, who urgently need our assistance.

Yours sincerely,

 The councils who have signed the letter:

• Alan White, Leader Staffordshire County Council
• Patrick Farrington, Leader Stafford Borough Council
• Doug Pullen, Leader Lichfield District Council
• Olivia Lyons, Leader Cannock Chase District Council
• George Allen, Acting Leader East Staffordshire District Council
• Simon Tagg, Leader Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council
• Roger Lees, Leader South Staffordshire Council
• Sybil Ralphs, Leader Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
• Jeremy Oates, Leader Tamworth Borough Council