New charity sends out welcome packs to Syrian refugees arriving in Glasgow

A community group has designed new packs welcoming “Refuweegees” arriving in Glasgow.

The packs contain blankets, toiletries and stationery as well as Glasgow-themed items to introduce them to their new city.

It also contains a heart-felt welcome letter from city residents.

Selina Hales founder of the Refuweegee project said she wanted to do something practical for vulnerable Syrians arriving in Glasgow.

“Having seen everything in the news I wanted to do something, not just donate,” said Hales.

Refuweegee was launched last Thursday with Hales giving the term her own definition: “Refuweegee (noun) – a person who upon arrival in Glasgow is embraced by the people of the city, a person considered to be a local.”

Donations have come from Tunnock’s biscuits and Glasgow City Marketing Board’s People Make Glasgow range, as well letters from after-school groups and residents.

The first 100 Syrian refugees arrived in Scotland on 17 November with Scotland pledging to take at least 400, 150 of whom will be placed in Glasgow.

The charity says: “Let’s live up to our recent Roughguides.com title as the world’s friendliest city and make sure that we all do what we can to welcome refugees in true weegie style.”