THE campaigning group ‘Refugees Welcome in Bude’ is determined to keep momentum going in its mission to offer a safe place to stay for those fleeing war-torn Syria.

With some UK?colleges and universities preparing to provide accommodation for refugees during holiday times, the group has now contacted Prince Charles, asking for his support.

Seeking advice from Citizens UK, a charity aimed at organising communities to ‘act together for power, social justice and the common good’, the group was encouraged to write to colleges and universities with accommodation about the possibility of homing refugees too, as, especially during holiday time, many of their rooms are empty.

‘Refugees Welcome in Bude’ group member Mary Whibley said: “After speaking to Citizens UK, we wrote a letter to Prince Charles about the possibility of Duchy College offering some form of help to refugees. They have accommodation at their college grounds so it would be really good if something could be worked out there. We are still waiting for a response though.

“Colleges and universities across the country are promising this type of sponsorship — the University of East London for example is offering ten free university places to refugees,” said Mary.

The group is also pressing Cornwall Council to pledge to take a specific number of the refugees.

Mary said: “More than 40 councils throughout the UK have committed to resettle people and we are continuing to press Cornwall Council to do the same and pledge to take a specific number.

“We’re asking for Cornwall Council to take on 50 refugees, but at the moment, even though they are saying they want to help, they are not pledging to do so.

“And 50 really isn’t that many. It doesn’t mean one town would have a big influx of refugees. It means that there could be ten in Truro, another ten in Bude, a few somewhere else — it really wouldn’t affect anywhere specifically.

“We have a meeting with Scott Mann MP soon, on the 13th of November, where we will be asking him, as our representative has he done anything yet.”

As reported in last week’s Post there is a petition on Cornwall Council’s refugee pages where people can pledge their support for offering sanctuary in North Cornwall to those fleeing the war.

The group has also contacted local letting agents asking them to write to their private landlords informing them of ways they can register their properties for leasing to selected refugees.

Mary said that every estate agent in Bude had agreed to inform their landlords how they can help, including Bond, Oxborough and Phillips, Colwills, Cornish Bay, Kivells, and Webbers.

Across the UK, more than 700 landlords have already signed up to demonstrate their interest and now the minister for the resettlement of refugees has recently announced an increase in funding for the scheme from one year to two to five years.

‘Refugees Welcome in Bude’ is looking to grow as much as possible and is welcoming any new members who wish to join and help in anyway they can. The group will meet next week on Wednesday, October 21 at 10.30am at the New Life Centre on The Strand, Bude, and then again on Friday, November 6 in the same place at the same time — anyone who wishes to help are invited to go along.

Mary added: “It is wonderful to see that throughout our country people are pulling together in true British style to help with the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two. Please join us here in North Cornwall to do your bit.”