A group are hoping to welcome a refugee family to live in their Renfrewshire village as part of a pioneering scheme.
Lochwinnoch Welcomes was established last year to take part in community sponsorship.
It’s a scheme that’s been run successfully in England but there has only ever been one other group in Scotland.
Now the villagers are well on their way to raising the £9,000 needed to sponsor the family and welcome them to a new life in Lochwinnoch.
Mum-of-two Becky Duncan is a photographer who’s worked with Scottish refugee organisations.
She heard about community sponsorship and during lockdown, started chatting to friends about whether it could work in Lochwinnoch.
Lochwinnoch Welcomes was formed and is working with charity Citizens UK as its lead sponsor. It needs to raise £9,000 before the application can proceed and thanks to an art sale and live event, it's well on its way with £5,000 in the bank.
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Becky is the co-chair alongside Kasia Marshall and the group has around 15 members from a range of backgrounds with a wider network of around 60 interested in the scheme.
Becky said: “We can sense a momentum building among people in the village.
“We don’t expect everybody to think this is a brilliant idea but that’s OK. There are enough folk in the village who are welcoming it.
“Part of the fundraising is to raise awareness and start conversations with people.
“We feel there is growing support. Lots of people want to do something to help and this is a really good, positive way the community can come together and make a difference.”
Becky said they’re making sure things are officially in place for the family to make the transition as easy as possible for them. There will be signs in the doctors and school and they’ll help them set up things like a bank account. The group is currently working to secure accommodation in the village for the family.
If all goes to plan, Becky hopes the family could be here in the next few months.
She said: “We need to prove to the UK Border Agency we are capable of doing this. The family will be sent over through an official process and will need to be officially determined as refugees.
“Once we have that and the application is accepted by the UK Border Agency, it could be three to six months for the family to come. We’re hoping they’ll be here by the summer."
She added: “Hopefully this will help build awareness of community sponsorship support in Scotland as a whole. Once communities, see it happen, they can do it in their area.”
To find out more about Lochwinnoch Welcomes and to donate to the fundraising, go to https://www.lochwinnochwelcomes.com
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