A Syrian refugee has thanked Worcestershire for helping her family find peace and happiness.

Amani is one of 100 Syrian refugees that have been offered a new start in Worcestershire under the government’s Syrian Resettlement Programme.

She said: “I came from devastated and wounded country carrying in my memory a lot of pain and fear.

“When I arrived in the UK, I was happy, but I quickly felt lonely. I was surprised at everything – my life, my house, the language, my boys and their schools.

“It is hard to change your life, but I felt I changed it to the best. It is strange to feel lonely and miss your family. In that time, I didn’t make friends because I didn’t speak English well.

“In the first year, Refugee Action helped us to deal with our issues then we become better after we start learning English and involved with English community.

“Today, I can speak English, I work in a good job, my boys are doing well in their school, my husband got a job.

“We found stability and we passed all the difficulties to start our life again in safety and peaceful country.

“I would like to thank Worcestershire County Council because they supported us in every step until we have settled in Worcestershire and they still work hard to help us and all the refugees to get a good living in the UK.”

Cllr Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member with responsibility for communities, said: “Since June 2016 we have provided refuge to 26 families previously living in refugee camps or homes close to the border after fleeing the war in Syria.

“Families identified under the government programme are some of the most vulnerable people affected by the conflict.

This includes women and children at risk and survivors of violence and torture, and we are proud to have played our part in housing those families that have been affected by the Syrian conflict.