Ealing Council is calling a summit to co-ordinate the borough’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis .

Community groups, councillors and local people will come together on January 20 at the town hall to discuss ways it will welcome and house the refugees and help them settle in their new home.

Council leader Julian Bell will also attend a meeting the following day (January 21) with other London authorities which have expressed a willingness to take on refugees to help co-ordinate the response across the capital.

Ealing was one of the first local authorities in the country to come forward to pledge its help to Syrian people fleeing the war-torn country in 2015, with the government agreeing the UK will provide asylum for up to 20,000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees .

In November, the government promise to extend funding for refugees beyond the initial year.

Since agreeing to participate Ealing Council has been working with officials to understand what support would need to be in place before people can be settled, the process for placing people in the borough and the funding available to councils.

The meeting will also examine ways of collecting pledges of support and assistance from the local community.

Ealing Council leader Julian Bell
Julian Bell: "It's about trying to co-ordinate these offers of help"

Cllr Bell said: “We have said we will take our fair share of refugees. There’s a willingness of people prepared to help and we need to co-ordinate it. There is a local restaurant sending food down to Calais , and estate agents willing to help find housing. It’s about trying to co-ordinate these offers of help.

“The big challenge is finding housing for refugees and the costs of that housing and how much the government is prepared to reimburse.

“But there are other elements. Social Services support is needed. People will need jobs as well, and one of the things they will need is English language courses, to put them in a better position to get a job.”

Among the organisations attending the council summit will be North West London Citizens, Barwaqa Relief Organisation, Ealing CVS, Centre for Armenian Information & Advice, Ealing Advice Forum, Southall Black Sisters, Penny Appeal, and Khadeejah Welfare Foundation.

Cllr Bell said: “I know that local people will be as shocked as I have been by the scale of this humanitarian crisis and the misery that is being endured by Syrian refugees.

“Ealing has a proud history of taking refugees, so I wanted to host this summit to bring the community and council together to make sure that we work together to welcome people with open arms.

“I’m therefore not surprised that I’ve been contacted by a number of community groups and individuals that are willing to help refugees and who have pledged to attend the summit. I would encourage any groups or individuals who believe they can help to join us.”