A PUBLIC meeting will be held in Otley this week to discuss ways of welcoming Ukrainian refugees to the town.

The event is open to all and will take place at 7pm on Thursday, April 28 at Otley Parish Church on Kirkgate.

The initiative, which aims to offer a forum to help both local hosts and refugees, is being supported by Otley Town Council with the assistance of Otley Action for Older People and Churches Together in Otley.

The meeting will be the first for a new Community Interest Company, which is likely to be called ‘Otley Welcomes’ and which will carry on the group’s previous work.

The session will set out the longer-term aims of the organisation but will also help the community to come together for the first time to share ideas, information, resources and support - as well as extending a warm welcome to hosts and to their Ukrainian guests, who are already arriving from areas affected by the war.

A spokesman for the group said: “Not everyone is able to offer a temporary home to refugees but there will still be many ways in which people can offer support if they wish to. We’d like to provide a forum to enable that co-operation, support and welcome into our community.”

Anyone who can't attend the meeting can email martingaskin@me.com for more information or to get involved.

Earlier this month it was revealed that local people were joining forces to set up a community sponsorship scheme - and they were being backed with money and support from the town council.

The council adopted a resolution of solidarity with Ukraine and has pledged funding to help set up an Otley Community Sponsorship Scheme which will also help other people escaping from future conflicts. Councillors have earmarked £2,000 for a local group established to support refugees coming to Otley.

After the decision Otley Town Council Chair Cllr Richard Hughes said: “The Council could not fail to be impressed by the community’s desire to act at this time of shocking news from Ukraine. It is right that we use some of the resources of the Council, including money, to help local people and organisations come together to ensure there is a great Otley welcome for any refugees who come here.”