Despite it being everyone’s wish to throw open their homes to Ukrainian refugees we realise that for many of us this just isn’t possible.
However, for those that have decided they can – and most if not all of the refugees who arrive in Leeds will have come to us via our church links in Romania will also need support.
Schooling, finding nurseries, learning a strange language, registering for healthcare, arranging benefits etc. etc are just some of the practical difficulties these people will face, and from what we see and hear the majority of this will need to be done by either the churches these people are being linked with or by the people they are staying with.
At this moment in time our priority is setting up a support network to support the supporters. In other words to appoint someone to coordinate our effort; to arrange lifts, to arrange a rota of people who can cook and bake, to visit, in fact to do all the things you would normally do but more so.
The one thing we mustn’t forget, though, is that the vast majority of these women and children will not only be miles and miles from home and from those they love; they will be scared of shadows.
Taking in refugees is a massive and potentially long term commitment but so too is supporting those at MBC that support them.
If you feel able to help (in any way possible) please speak with Shelley or with any member of the Leadership Team just as soon as you possibly can, that way through our links with churches in Romania and via an organisation named the Sanctuary Foundation MBC will be able to do its bit.