Home Secretary Priti Patel came under fire with her recent comments about letting Ukrainian refugees into the UK.
The government confirmed that Britain has granted visas for only 300 Ukrainian refugees – which has caused uproar around the country.
Meanwhile other countries around Europe like Poland, Hungary and Slovenia have all let in over 100,000 refugees and many other European countries have let in tens of thousands.
There are more thanone million Ukrainian refugees fleeing Ukraine and that number is growing by the day.
Mary McCormack is a teacher at City of York Council. She also works with Refugee Action York (RAY). RAY work with and for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in and around the City of York.
She said: “Refugee Action York encourages the UK government to lift any limit on the number of Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK.”
RAY are doing their part to help Ukraine. Mary says “We have been overwhelmed by people’s generosity in recent weeks. The images from Ukraine have shown, yet again, the terrifying reality of what it means to leave behind everything you know and love and flee in fear of your life.
“When asked by our supporters, how they can best help right now, we have been advising that a financial donation, however small, to a recognised organisation working in Ukraine or the border areas will offer immediate impact.”
Mary also mentioned that York are ready to home refugees. “We have a number of project workers who, with the support of our senior Project Worker John Williamson, run a whole range of different services for refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.”
“Bi-weekly youth club and sports sessions for children and young people, coffee mornings and English language classes for adults and a monthly Hub sessions which offers emotional and practical support and signposting. Anyone arriving in York will be supported to attend and warmly welcomed to any of these services.”
Julian Sturdy, Conservative MP York said “Now is not the time for box ticking and red tape, now is the time to do everything we can; no more excuses, we have to move the process forward, we have to speed it up.”