Consent from the Vale of Glamorgan Council means Croeso Cowbridge can get approval from the Home Office to sponsor a refugee family

Refugee group Croeso Cowbridge is one step closer to welcoming a Syrian refugee family to the town, as its application to become a sponsor has been approved by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Consent from the local authority means that the Home Office will now consider the application before a refugee family is sent to Cowbridge.

Pamela Haines is part of the group that set up Croeso Cowbridge three years ago. She was glad to have the council's approval, as the pandemic had halted progress.

"We really got going about 18 months ago, and we had to get consent from the local authority. It goes through everything we've done so far but everything was put on hold during lockdown," said Pamela.

"The amount of paperwork is enormous and we have to have £4,500 per adult, so £9,000 for a family.

"We've actually raised £23,000, which is fantastic. Hopefully it could mean another family in the future, when we do eventually have approval," she said.

Croeso Cowbridge raised the money via concerts, coffee mornings and individual donations.

"Oasis in Cardiff provide meals and resources for all refugees and asylum seekers in Cardiff. They came to cook a fantastic Syrian supper in Cowbridge," said Pamela.

"Someone also did a skydive, and raised £2,000."

The aim of the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme is to settle the family and make them as independent as soon as possible.

"It's run by Citizens UK in conjunction with Reset, which is funded by the Home Office, and they have been brilliant during lockdown," said Pamela.

"We've had sessions three times a week from people explaining how they taught people English, how they helped the children, how they helped with medical issues, and what to expect.

"We do need more volunteers, because when the family arrives there will be a lot of work.

"They won't speak any English, so we're looking for anyone with any Arabic. We could have a rota for the initial couple of months.

"We do need lots of people's help, for example with furnishing and decorating a house.

"That's one thing that is outstanding, but we couldn't commit to one because we'd have to pay the rent already, and we can't until we know exactly how many are coming," said Pamela.

The group has also provisionally established school places for children, but do not know how many and what age they will be.

"The family are chosen by the United Nations Refugee Council," said Pamela.

"The UNRC try and allot a family based on background. So, because Cowbridge is a rural area, they might try and get a family not from the centre of Damascus.

"They are really vulnerable; they are the most traumatised people.

"They are often illiterate, often had terrible traumas in Syria and couldn't have come to this country by any other format," she said.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has previously approved sponsors in Penarth and Llantwit Major.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Building Services Cllr Margaret Wilkinson said: "I'm sure a lot of people know about this scheme. We need to keep going, as it is most important."

VOG Council leader Neil Moore said: "There's been such success in what happened, I'm glad another group has come forward."