Herne Hill is rocking for refugees in an upcoming concert which will also mark the introduction of a new Syrian refugee family to the area.
Local community group Herne Hill Welcomes Refugees has just received notice from the Home Office that its application to host its second refugee family has been approved.
This comes as the group is organising a live music event on Saturday October 16 to raise money to support its cause, featuring local funk, soul and rock band Talking Strawberries.
In order to meet the Home Office’s requirements, the team of 20 volunteers have found a property for the family, English lessons, school places, and access to a GP – as well as forming a befriending team to welcome them.
“It started out just as a group of neighbours who felt strongly about people who have had a hard time in life and had to flee their own country,” said Herne Hill Welcomes Refugees event coordinator Kathy Bullock.
“Now everyone from the community gets involved. We’ve learned a lot about other cultures and it’s been so rewarding.”
In 2018 the group welcomed their first family of refugees from Iraq. Kathy was not able to give too many details about them, but said: “I feel I’ve got a new family.
“They waited five years and two months in a refugee camp. They were so emotional to be here when we met them.
“Now they’ve become very good friends.
“The children’s English is incredible. It’s so exciting to see them grow up and become confident young people.”
Working together to bring refugee families to the UK has also brought Herne Hill together.
“The one thing that stands out in Herne Hill is everybody knows their neighbours,” said Kathy.
“We have a lot of community spirit. You don’t feel like you’re just an anonymous person in a big city.
That’s been one of the wonders of the program, really.”
The government’s Community Sponsorship scheme enables people across the UK to welcome refugees to the country if they are able to raise sufficient funding and meet the Home Office’s requirements.
344 refugees have settled across the UK as a result of the scheme.
Money from Herne Hill’s upcoming live music event will go towards helping the new family settle in, and towards future refugee families.
Kathy stated that the upcoming gig will be an action-packed night.
“I hope people will come and dance the night away,” she said.
The fundraiser @OTCBarSE24 on 16th October. Tickets: bit.ly/HHWRRocks