Moray’s refugee resettlement team has received £5,000 from the Moray Emergency Relief Fund (MERF) to disburse to local organisations supporting Ukrainian arrivals in the area.
The MERF was established by the Moray and Banffshire lieutenancies during the first lockdown of the Coronavirus pandemic, and pledged £240,000 to fulfil 1,300 grants.
Now, following a request from Moray Council’s refugee resettlement team to support local organisations welcoming Ukrainians to Moray, MERF funding has been allocated to: Moray School Bank (£1,200), Moray Food Plus (£1,200), and £1,200 and £1,400 for clothing vouchers and integration events respectively.
Chair of the Moray Emergency Relief Fund, and former Lord-Lieutenant of Moray, Lieutenant Colonel Grenville Johnston, said:
“The people of Moray welcome our Ukrainian guests and are pleased to assist them during this dreadful conflict in Ukraine.
“As this is an emergency situation the fund is delighted to grant some support which we hope will make their lives easier while they are here in the UK.”
Roy Geddes, Moray Council’s Refugee and Resettlement Project Officer, said:
“Many thanks to the Moray Emergency Relief Fund trustees for their kind support to the resettlement and refugee team, and local support groups who are doing sterling work supporting community groups.
“The additional support we can give to our 16 Ukrainian families, and the next 10 that will be arriving in the near future, will be absolutely fundamental to them settling into the area.”
