North Wales MS Mark Isherwood is supporting the coordinated work that is being developed throughout North Wales as Ukrainian families arrive in the area.
The charity ‘Link International’ and its Ukrainian Link Programme is working with North Wales local authorities in collaboration with other statutory agencies and the Welsh Government, and to bring together community and faith groups and third sector organisations.
The collaboration followed Mr Isherwood’s introduction of Link International to the Welsh Government in Plenary on 15th March, when he stated:
“Effective delivery will also require Local Authorities to work with community organisations, and much of the heavy lifting across Wales is already being done, often on a shoestring, by a myriad of third sector bodies and partnerships between the third sector and others, including NWAMI, Networking for World Awareness of Multicultural Integration; Synergy in Flintshire, and the Wrexham Town of Sanctuary coalition. ‘Ukrainian Friends and Families Link’ has also now been in touch.
“They are being established by a team of local professionals and partnering Third Sector organisations and Churches across North Wales, working from a central hub in Llandudno, to prepare for the arrival of Ukrainian nationals and others affected by the war who will come to North Wales in the weeks and months ahead.
“How will the Welsh Government support these vital initiatives and facilitate local authority engagement with them?”
Welcoming the joint working, Mr Isherwood said:
“I am extremely pleased that local authorities and the Welsh Government are working together with Link International to provide the vital support needed for Ukrainians arriving in North Wales.
“As they state, ‘there is a very significant role for non-statutory groups to play in this work alongside the Health Board, Social Services and others’, as I highlighted in the Senedd last month.”
“They will be holding an event to provide information and training to local third sector groups and volunteers, faith and community groups, and will give an opportunity for initiatives that are already running to share what they are doing and the progress being made.
“The event will take place on zoom on April 25th at 10.30am and registration is required through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-wales-community-response-for-ukrainian-families-tickets-318899255257
For information about the progress being made and plans that are being developing please see their website : https://www.link-international.org/ukraine”
