TWO or three families of Syrian refugees could be resettled in Cornwall as early as March.

The Cornwall Refugee Partnership has been undertaking preparatory work in advance of welcoming families fleeing the civil war in Syria.

Cornwall has offered resettlement to families travelling to the UK under the Government’s five-year Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.

The initial families coming to Cornwall will be resettled in temporary private sector housing.

The refugee partnership, which is supported by the Home Office, is made up of a number of bodies including Cornwall Council (housing, education, adults’, children’s and localism services), Cornwall Housing, NHS Kernow, Job Centre Plus, Inclusion Cornwall, Devon and Cornwall Police, CSW Group Ltd, and community and faith representatives.

Council leader John Pollard said: ‘Cornwall has a proud record of being open-hearted and inclusive and we are looking forward to being able to welcome our first Syrian families.

Security

‘It is hard for us to imagine what refugees have been through but we hope that they will be able to find a new start here in Cornwall where they will be able to feel safe and free from persecution.’

Refugees are being given a full medical check-up and security vetting before they arrive in the UK. They are being flown directly from countries neighbouring Syria to Britain.