TWO groups in Bury and Radcliffe are extending the welcoming hand of friendship to help tackle the refugee crisis.

The Bury Committee in Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Refugees (Solidarity) and Radcliffe Churches Together (RCT) have been providing invaluable support and events to welcome refugees to the borough.

With many refugees facing little support and a lack of knowledge of schools and GPs, Solidarity and RCT started to work with the not-for-profit organisation, Near Neighbours, to receive guidance and also a grant, allowing them to start helping out refugees.

Solidarity received the maximum £5,000 grant to host free monthly socials where refugees and their children can meet, make friends with local people and receive practical support. They have been hosting such socials for a number of years, but will use funding from Near Neighbours to expand this work to include Syrians and Eritreans.

RCT, which received a £2,500 grant, have been hosting "Food and Friendship" sessions to provide play opportunities for children and to allow refugees and asylum seekers to meet local people.

They originally ran similar sessions for three to four years before stopping in 2012 due to low demand. However, trial sessions this summer indicated there was a significant increase in need.

to hold them again.

Both groups are signposting new arrivals to the community towards the relevant schools and GPs as well as offering support when they face problems.

Rick Coates, chairman of Solidarity, said: "We are aware that it is difficult for refugees to arrive in the borough and have no friends and no support and we want to give them friendly faces so they know they are welcome."

Les Johnson, who works for Radcliffe Churches Together, said: "It’s been fantastic to stand up and welcome refugees, but it’s also been rewarding getting to know these wonderful people who are joining our community.”

Catherine Sorrell, responsible for awarding the grants, said: "At Near Neighbours we recognise that ensuring new arrivals to England have the best opportunity to settle into their new cities is central to creating strong and trusting communities in England, and these two groups are acting as great ambassadors for their community.”