This year will mark 80 years since British communities began to take in 10,000 child refugees fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe. These civic efforts with the support of the Government would come to be known as the ‘KinderTransport’. 80 years later, children are still fleeing war and still do not have a safe passage to the UK.
Today (November 8th) a deputation to Dorset County Council asking them to pledge support to our campaign was made. We asked Dorset County Council and will in due course the new Unitary Council to commit to resettling 3-at risk refugee children every year for the next 10 years in memory of those we welcomed 80 years ago. If every local authority up and down the country commits to welcoming 3 child refugees every year, that will amount to 10,000 at-risk children welcomed to the UK over the next 10 years – the same number we welcomed under the #Kindertransport.
The deputation was made in front of all the council members with a packed public gallery showing the great local support backing the campaign.
A unanimous vote from all Dorset County councillors pledged their “strongest support in principle” to the campaign to welcome 30 refugee children in the next 10 years.
The Dorset 80 Years On team are delighted with the result. You can follow them on Twitter @80YearsOn to keep up to date with their campaign.
Mia Barlow, representing the group, spoke to KeeP 106 about the campaign and you hear the two interviews here
