VOLUNTEERS from Dwyfor and Meirionnydd have helped re-settle 12 Syrian refugees in the county.

Gwynedd Council has announced that the county had welcomed its first group of refugees over the summer, but would not disclose where in the county they had been housed to “respect the privacy of these individuals”.

Gwynedd Council’s housing department has worked with private landlords to arrange suitable accommodation.

Helping them settle into their new homes were volunteers from CEFN Supporting Refugees group, who have already been providing direct aid and volunteering assistance to refugees throughout Europe and the Middle East since August 2015.

Chair of the group, Gwenlli Haf Evans said: “One element of this support has been to work as a third sector partner with Cyngor Gwynedd Council to support Syrian refugee families resettling in the county by providing additional necessary items for them, in order to support them to settle in their new surroundings.

“CEFN has been proud to work in partnership with fellow refugee support group Pobl i Bobl, and many other local groups including the Mothers’ Union, The Inner Wheel, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Bangor Islamic Society, Coleg y Bala, Cytun churches together in Wales, and individuals and businesses who have kindly donated goods. We are always grateful to the Church of All Saints of Wales for accommodating our base of operations.

“CEFN is proud that Gwynedd has offered sanctuary to those in need, is glad to be working in partnership to support them.”

Read the full story in the Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News, in shops now, or available online by clicking the digital editions link