In 2017 you will remember, that our churches within Cardiff West and Llandaff Deanery, came together with community organisations, to work towards resettling a family from Syria through the Government’s refugee Community Sponsorship programme. We decided to name our project – 1 Family Cardiff.
Our aim was to provide a home, long term friendship and support to help our family settle and integrate into their community here in Cardiff.
Volunteers from all our churches came together to form a working party, headed by Rev. Michael John. Support was given by Citizens UK, which was invaluable in guiding the group through the necessary steps set out by the Home Office which needed to be complied with to be successful in our application.
One huge part of the criteria, was the fact that we all needed to raise a minimum of £9,000 to support a refugee family. The actual amount required was much more than this, to cover local rents, living costs, translator fees, etc. With all your hard work in fundraising, from coffee mornings, quizzes, afternoon tea, and so many more clever ways of collecting money, we eventually raised a massive £23,000. How very generous everyone was.
Due to the involved application processes with both the Home Office and Cardiff Council, together with the fact that we had the pandemic in 2020, it was not until February 2021 that we were finally allowed to re settle our family.
On 25 February 2021 Hdya, Mohammad and their 3 teenage boys landed in Heathrow, and arrived in Cardiff. What a time to begin their new life here. In the middle of the pandemic. We were all social distancing and there were restrictions in the personal contact that could be made. Despite this our volunteers carried through, and did such an amazing job in welcoming and supporting the lovely family, who we were finally being allowed to help settle and feel safe in our country.
As you can imagine there have been ups and downs for Hyda, Mohammed and their boys. I am pleased then to be able to tell you that I have heard from Glynis James, who has continued with Michael to provide support, that after a long wait, the family have finally been given Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. I have been asked to let you all know that the family are of course both relieved and delighted to have been granted this status, and want to thank all of us, for our help in making this happen.
Just to add a little further update on how the family are getting on with life, through their own hard work and commitment to settling here and integrating. Hdya is due to start a psychology course at the University of South Wales, this year. Mohammad is working in catering. Their eldest boy is studying and working with ambition to be an aircraft engineer. Their middle boy is training to work in computers, and the youngest is still at school and starting at St. David’s college in September.
A real success story, with a big thank you to all who contributed toward this, whether it was funding, skills, time, or all three. A marvellous combined effort. Particular congratulation though should be give to Michael who started the whole process, and Glynis, who together worked until we now have the result we all prayed for.