Children's home withdrawn over community backlash
GoogleA charity has withdrawn plans to open a home for vulnerable children, following a backlash from residents unhappy some of them would be unaccompanied refugees.
Safe Haven - A Ray of Hope submitted plans for Manor House in Easington Lane, near Sunderland, but the charity said it backed out last week after a recent fire at the property and "outrage" from the public.
Charity founder Blessing Olalemi said it removed refugee children from its plans but it did not allay the community's fears.
Councillor Dave Geddis, chairman of Hetton Town Council's planning committee, said the concern came from a "lack of communication" and "people's minds raced all over the place".
The charity, based in Newcastle, supports underprivileged children and wanted the former old people's care home to provide supported accommodation for 16- and 17-year-olds in care, young mothers and unaccompanied minors who arrived in the UK, specifically refugees and asylum seekers.
Ms Olalemi said they tried engaging the community "to understand why" it was opposed to the plans.
"The community were very strong and sensitive about the refugee and asylum seeker bit so we decided we could remove that part," she said.
"But we knew the anger was so much more than that."
Safe Haven's plans for the Easington Lane site were hampered further when there was a fire at the building on 23 January, which Geddis said left it in a "dreadful and dangerous state".
In 2018, a man was killed in an arson attack at the property, which was then being used as a hostel and the building has been vacant ever since.
Ms Olalemi said the plans had been progressing but "in the process there was an outrage".
Geddis said the concern came from "the lack of knowledge, the lack of communication and I think people's minds raced all over the place".
"People were worried," he said.
Safe Haven acknowledged approaching the community more quickly with the plans could have improved communication.
Safeguarding concerns
Two public meetings were held and Geddis said the main issues raised were concerns for safeguarding and the building's condition.
"The safeguarding issue was an internal issue as to how Safe Haven was going to keep the three different groups of vulnerable people secure and safe," he said.
Commenting on the planning application, Northumbria Police said it was concerned the varying lifestyles and vulnerabilities of the service users "differs significantly and could cause internal conflict and tension".
Easington Lane was a "very tight-knit" community which was "accepting of people from various backgrounds", Geddis said.
The independent councillor added he did not think the inclusion of refugee children was the "overwhelming issue of it".
"I'm not saying it didn't play a part," he said, "but I do believe people were wary.
"People are proud to be here, they don't want any negativity and that was the fear."
After the second meeting, Safe Haven announced it was withdrawing its intent of service.
Ms Olalemi said she was "very disappointed" because of the time and money put into the project by the charity, but said she "didn't want to push things".
"The community clearly objects," she said.
"We've told Easington Lane we respect them as a community."