A TEENAGE refugee has given thanks to the charity workers and volunteers who are helping her family to build new lives in Worcestershire.

The 17-year-old girl, the eldest of three sisters, who travelled to England with her parents, has praised the county's Syrian Resettlement Programme,which launched exactly a year ago and has provided refuge and safety to 50 refugees.

Worcetsershire County Council has declined to identify the family or where they are now living for fear of reprisals against their relatives who remain in Syria.

The teenager, named only as Lara, said: "Thank you to everyone who is helping us. We have a future here, but not so much in Syria. The best thing is that we are all okay. Many people are not. All of the families, we have all lost someone. But we are all safe and together."

She added: "Life in Syria was not bearable and we were not safe.

"We could not stay there. We lived in the war for a year but could not be there anymore."

The sisters, aged 10-17, are learning at schools and colleges in the county; and their parents are improving their English, learning new IT skills and volunteering while preparing to apply for work.

Leaders of Worcestershire County, Bromsgrove District, Malvern Hills District, Redditch Borough, Worcester City, Wychavon District and Wyre Forest District Councils agreed to host up to 50 Syrian refugees in Worcestershire by the end of 2016.

The 14 families, living in Worcester, Redditch and Kidderminster, qualified for resettlement under the government's Syrian Resettlement Programme. They were all previously living in refugee camps or homes close to the border after fleeing the war in Syria.

To mark Refugee Week 2017 (June 19-25) and the first anniversary of their arrival, refugees from across the county and their support network have come together to highlight the programme's success.

In June 2016, national charity Refugee Action was commissioned to provide a refugee integration and independence service for Worcestershire and by the end of the month had welcomed the first three families.

Maneesha Raju, the charity's resettlement manager for Worcestershire, said: "One year on, I'm happy that all our families have arrived safely and are settled in their new homes. They are becoming independent and self-reliant.

"It’s incredibly difficult coming to a new country where you don’t speak the language and with a totally different culture.

"But the community in Worcestershire has made a huge contribution through welcome groups, local neighbourhoods, church groups – everybody has been so helpful and welcoming."

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for communities, said: "We are really pleased with the progress that families have made since arriving in Worcestershire.

"There are clear signs that some families are in a position to carry out tasks independently and access mainstream services for support.

"We recognise that each family has individual needs around, for example, health, housing and access to services, and we continue to work closely with them to address any issues.

"Local communities have provided a key role in supporting these families to become independent and self-reliant, so that they have the opportunity to prosper, be healthy and happy in their new lives in Worcestershire."

The Syrian Resettlement Programme is a five year scheme designed to support vulnerable refugee families to achieve independence.