A REFUGEE family who have settled in Inverclyde after fleeing a war-torn country say that the best things about living in Inverclyde are the safety and freedom it offers - and Battery Park.

Hussam Al Allouh, his wife Yusra, and their three children Oadi, 11, Joudi, nine, and Kadee, 11 months, moved to Quarrier Street in Greenock in 2016.

The family didn't know they were going to be heading for Greenock until they arrived at Glasgow Airport after fleeing the warzone.

Now, four years after their arrival, the Al Allouhs feel safe and comfortable in their community and are happy to call Greenock home.

Hussam, 39, who worked with electrical sewing machines before he left Syria, said: "We feel safe here and this is definitely our home.

"There is so much freedom.

"In Syria, we were not safe as the country is at war and there was no security.

"It's a different country and a completely different culture here but we're settling in well.

"We're very happy here."

Refugee families in Inverclyde are part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Scheme run through the Home Office.

Each family has been identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Inverclyde Council's refugee and migration team is involved in every step of the integration process - from picking up families at the airport and taking them to their new home, sourced in partnership with local housing associations, to helping children enrol in school, organising English language learning classes, and setting up healthcare provision.

The team also works with local community organisations to help the families integrate into their new communities.

The UK Home Office provides the council with funding to carry out this work.

Families arriving in Inverclyde are given refugee status straight away and a five year right to remain.

After the five years, families have to apply again to remain in the district indefinitely.

Since the scheme launched in November 2015, no refugee families have left Inverclyde - but many have relocated from other local authority areas.

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: "The council is currently involved in three central government resettlement schemes giving nearly 40 families and children from Syria, Afghanistan and Sudan a safe haven here in Inverclyde.

"A new resettlement scheme was due to start in April but was suspended because of Covid-19.

"The council has already agreed, in principle, to participate in this new scheme.

"Inverclyde has a proud history of being a caring and compassionate place."

Little Kadee was born 11 months ago, and since then, the Al Allouhs have received fantastic support from the Inverclyde health visiting team.

Due to the language barrier, the team uses interpretation and translation services which help the family access all the healthcare they need.

Health visitor and infant feeding co-ordinator Catriona MacLean said: "Pharmacists, GPs and health visitors work together to provide the best possible care for the families.

"The health visiting team acts as an advocate for the family and helps to bridge any gaps, making sure the family can access the correct healthcare when they need it."

Hussam says that in Syria, men are traditionally not very good at helping their wives after they give birth and don't help with the housework.

He's determined to change that and is leading the way by being a hands-on dad.

Hussam said: "It's so important for men to help their wives at home and you should work together as a team.

"Sometimes I wake up during the night and carry Kadee from her cot to her mum so she can breastfeed her.

"When Yusra is having her lunch or dinner I take care of Kadee.

"We share the chores between us.

"I gladly do most of the housework."

Hussam and Yusra's older children Oadi and Joudi love going to school at King's Oak Primary and have really enjoyed learning English.

Their favourite thing about Greenock is Elev8 at Battery Park.

Despite arriving in Inverclyde from a very different country and culture, which had been their home for many years, Hussam and Yusra are very happy to now call Greenock home - and don't want to ever have to return to the warzone.

Hussam added: "We really feel at home here and would never want to go back to Syria.

"We feel very welcomed by the community and I think we interact with the community very well.

"Everyone has been very helpful."