The Salvation Army has said it will assist the council with housing and caring for the first group of refugee families to arrive in Southwark.
The council is set to make an official announcement on December 13 stating how many child refugees it will take in. But an announcement by the Salvation Army said it hoped that five families could be settled here by “early in the New Year”.
Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Southwark Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We are very grateful to the Salvation Army for offering to provide these homes for families who have escaped the terrible conflict in Syria.
“The council will now approach the Home Office to make the offer, and ensure the other necessary support is in place for five families to come to Southwark.”
The update comes after the Home Offices announcement in October that more than 80 unaccompanied children had been accepted to the UK from Greece, under the Dubs amendement.
Councils across the UK are being invited to pledge a number of refugee families they can accept. But no authority will made to accept more than 0.07 per cent of its existing child population. Janet Martin, from Salvation Army, said, “The refugee crisis can seem terrifying. Here in Southwark we have been working to show that local communities can make a huge difference to the lives of these displaced peoples.
“We have been taken aback by the incredible support from private landlords, businesses, English schools, individuals, religious organisations and educational institutions.”