Syrian refugees are ‘settling in and enjoying Pembrokeshire although there are problems to overcome’ according to organisers behind the resettlement scheme.

The county has welcomed seven families – including two who arrived in Pembroke last week – over the last few years as part of the Home Office’s Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme.

Much of the work has been carried out by community volunteer groups and their community sponsorship scheme.

Representatives from Croeso Arberth, Hwlffordd and Abergwaun went to the county council’s partnerships overview and scrutiny committee to give a first hand account of how the scheme is working.

Jeff Britten from Croeso Hwlffordd said the family of six making their home in the county town had fled from a town near Damascus in 2013, coming to Pembrokeshire from Oman, this year.

A suitable house was found for them thanks to the generosity of a local person who wanted it to be used in her mother’s memory, a similar situation to how the family in Fishguard found a property.

Problems with rental properties were one of the issues highlighted at committee on June 28; not just meeting costs of rent but also signing a lease in the first place.

The hybrid scheme that sees the community groups working more closely with county council has seen improvements to the situation.

Ann Alderman who took over managing the scheme at Pembrokeshire County Council at the end of last year found that dealing with larger letting agents was more successful and they were “content that I work for the local authority”, with a five year commitment to look after the family.

Mr Britten added that the cultural shift effected families greatly especially once the “euphoria of the honeymoon period” wore off and missing family left behind in Syria was common.

Jill Simpson from Croeso Arberth spoke more about the process of bringing families to the area, highlighting the length of time it could take community groups compared to local authorities.

It had taken 10 months for the group to bring the family to Narberth, with applications tot he Local Authority and then the Home Office having to be made.

In contrast, the committee heard that it took Mrs Alderman just eight weeks to arrange the arrival of Pembroke’s new families.

Mrs Simpson also welcomed the move away from including community group families in council figures and its commitment to support 20 families by 2023.

Croeso members had called a meeting with councillors earlier this year to discuss the matter.

“We were satisfied from that meeting that the council was committed to brining the full quota to Pembrokeshire,” said Mrs Simpson.

She added that “bringing the best aspects of both schemes” in a hybrid scheme was worked on and that helped bring the newest families to the area.

Government changes to driving licence rules were highlighted by Olwyn Thomas from Croeso Abergwaun.

People are no longer able to take their driving test in Arabic and can only use their Syrian licence for one year, leaving people stranded without transportation.

This restricted job opportunities as well as added to feelings of isolation, she said.

The committee voted to write to the Home Office to ask that this matter be looked at to see if there was a suitable solution.

A short film showing how Croeso Abergwaun is assisting families to learn English was shown along with the support from the wider community which helps contribute to the resettlement.

A number of community language learning practices were now being included in national training schemes.

Cabinet member for housing Cllr Pat Davies said: “I think we should all be very grateful for the work community groups do and the work put in to get this off the ground.”

She added there was now greater momentum behind the local authority’s involvement.