Volunteers in the Ceiriog Valley have been praised for their ‘magnificent’ efforts in welcoming Ukrainian refugees to the area.

Weekly English classes have been held for the refugees at Glyn Ceiriog’s Christian Centre by volunteer tutors since last summer.

The classes supplement the refugees’ ESOL lessons (English for Speakers of Other Languages) at Coleg Cambria.

Local businesswoman Jools Payne, who started the volunteer group, said: “The amazing support our Ukrainian friends have received stretches the length and breadth of the Ceiriog Valley. From hosts who have opened their homes, to local hospitality venues offering employment opportunities, to countless small acts of kindness that have helped them navigate their new life and language.

“It has been heart-warming. A volunteer described the valley as providing our guests with ‘a soft landing pad and a warm cwtch’. Equally, they have given us much in return, enriching our lives with their culture, warmth and humour.”

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The volunteer tutors were praised by MS for Clwyd South MS Ken Stakes, who visited the centre.  

He said: “The network of help which has been created in the valley is amazing. The guests have not only been given a very warm welcome, but crucial, tangible and practical support too.

“So many people have helped, and residents have also donated their own time, expertise and a great deal of furniture and household items to refurbish and fully furnish a neglected empty property in Dolywern for one of the families to live in.”

Earlier in the week, Mr Skates asked Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt how the Welsh Government is helping refugees from Ukraine to seek sanctuary in Wales. He was told the ‘Team Wales’ approach – working in partnership with councils and third sector organisations – has led to more than 6,500 being welcomed so far.

As part of the 2023-24 budget, a further £40m will also be invested in Welsh Governments humanitarian response.

Ms Hutt told the Senedd: “It is important that we made that commitment, that £40m package of funding. We made that commitment in consultation with our local authority partners, who have been so crucial – and the third sector – in delivering support for Ukrainian refugees in Wales. 

“We're awaiting clarity from the UK Government in relation to funding. They’ve announced a £150m homelessness prevention fund, but we haven't heard what the allocation for Wales will be. I have written to seek urgent clarity on this. We need to see what our share will be, because the UK Government has cut the Year 2 integration tariff. So we lost £29m in that decision alone.”

The Welsh Government has also extended hosting payments into refugees’ second year after arrival and increased ‘thank you’ payments to hosts to £500.