Last year I was honoured to be invited to the unveiling of a blue plaque on the outside of a house at 18 Alexandra Road, just to the north of the city centre. The house had been used as the temporary home of ten boys who had arrived on the Kindertransport, fleeing from persecution in Nazi Germany.

Michael Zorek, son of one of those boys – Werner Zorek – was the inspiration behind the blue plaque because he wanted to recognise the part that Gloucester and its then refugee support organisation GAAR had played in welcoming and looking after those refugees.

Those boys were eventually distributed to families and were educated, gained jobs, and even joined the Armed Forces. Werner eventually moved to New York, but he didn’t forget the kindness and help he found in Gloucester.

In February, I walked with the Ukrainian refugees commemorating the anniversary of the Russian invasion. But the issue of refugees never stops. Conflict, famine, changing climate, political instability and other causes constantly ensure that millions of people worldwide are seeking safety, food, peace and stability.

There are refugee issues globally, from Afghanistan and Yemen, to Turkey and Syria. In Africa, South and Central America, waves of refugees struggle to find a relief from grinding poverty and lack of opportunity. In Europe we now have millions of refugees from Ukraine escaping the war caused by Russia.

Creating a space they can call home

Here in Gloucester and the wider county, GARAS – the descendant of the wartime GAAR – is the organisation which helps refugees. Over the years they have helped those from Syria, Afghanistan and, more recently, Ukrainians and the mixture of nationalities who make up the small boat refugees crossing the channel. GARAS tries to create a space they can call home, finds opportunities to help them into employment if possible, and helps them become part of our country and our society.

I think we should all do what we can to welcome and help those immigrants into our city and county, recognising that by giving them support and opportunities, they will repay by contributing into our society in the future, just as members of the Kindertransport did during the war years.