Dozens of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine are already on their way to Worcestershire and county MP Harriett Baldwin has met with international parliamentarians to discuss how to improve the process.

Harriett met with a delegation from the Polish Parliament to discuss how local people can best help to offer support and homes to people fleeing the war, transiting through Poland.

Harriett said:

“I met with Polish Parliamentarians to thank them for their generosity in welcoming refugees from Ukraine. The UK's Homes for Ukraine Scheme has already added over 150,000 homes to help the effort. Poland is using its network on twinned towns and cities to help refugees move to other countries and I am sure that towns in Worcestershire will want to consider linking up with a Polish community to help match refugees to homes.

“Worcestershire County Council has extended its Here2Help website to allow people who want to help Ukraine refugees to register there and I am working closely with the Home Office on a number of Ukrainian families who are trying to get relatives into our country.

“I have been encouraged by the number of people who have reached out to me to offer help and it is now a matter of channelling this energy towards the organisations who can match homes to refugees.

“It has been a complex and challenging exercise but I am confident that the efforts are being scaled up day-by-day.

“Of course, all of us want peace in Ukraine and to allow people to return to their homes in safety but I know that that may now be impossible for many.

“I am proud of the way our local community has reacted to this crisis and those refugee crises in Afghanistan and Syria over recent years. Worcestershire people have truly been great global citizens.”

Photo: Harriett Baldwin MP (centre) meeting with UK and Polish Parliamentarians to discuss the international response to Ukraine.