Croeso Teifi Annual Report February 8[th] 2025-8[th] February 2026
I am so delighted to be able to continue my gratitude to you all for the successful welcome which you have provided to our three Syrian families over the years. They are an integral part of life here in Cardigan and have deservedly earned the respect of the community.
The second family successfully gained their British citizenship in July 2025 and successfully applied for British passports. Both first and second families were thus able to travel to Syria in August to reconnect with family and friends, understandably it was a very emotional time for all. In November Croeso Teifi put on an afternoon of celebration to mark the award of British citizenship to both families and it was lovely to be surrounded by many of those who were involved with Croeso Teifi in the early days. We were pleased that Ben Lake (MP) was able to attend, together with his wife and young son, and we are grateful to him for his continuing support. Thank you also to members of Ceredigion County Council, and to our former mayor of Cardigan who were also able to attend. My thanks also go to the St Dogmael’s Community Choir who entertained us with some beautiful and thoughtful songs, appropriate for the occasion.
The first family continue to thrive in Cardigan. They have all settled in to their new home this last year and are very happy living in Cardigan.
The father continues working full time with a local builder and playing football with the Llechryd 2[nd] Division team this year.
The mother is completing her second year of a four-year full-time Hair Dressing course in Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan and is also following a two-hour on-line ESOL Course weekly in college.
Their eldest son is taking his second year GCSE’s, he has a part time job and is playing for St Dogmaels Under Sixteen Football team, the team are playing in the All Wales Under Sixteen cup final this year.
Their daughter is in her first year GCSE, she plays netball and is a very keen baker.
Their youngest son still has two years in Primary school; he is thriving in their new home being able to play with his school friends every evening. He is now playing for Cardigan Under eights Football team but not a Goalie!
Our second family are similarly thriving. The father is continuing to run his barber’s business in Fishguard and deserves his reputation as a reliable and friendly barber. The mother has a busy time looking after the children. The children are happy and settled in Cardigan; the eldest child has started secondary school whilst the youngest child is now at nursery.
It has been a privilege to see all these children growing up over the last few years and enjoying life here in Cardigan.
This is the fourth year of resettlement in Cardigan for our third family and both parents are consolidating their skills-set with college courses. The father is now in the second year of his
part-time HNC Course, level 4, for Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Pembrokeshire college. He is still volunteering at repair cafes in St Dogmael’s and Newcastle Emlyn, and volunteering at Barnardos. After considering various options, the mother decided to return to college part-time to do the level 3 of the IT course, after encouragement from her former IT tutor that she would do very well. I am extremely grateful to all those of you who are continuing to support the third family as they look to establish themselves in Cardigan.
My thanks also go to the two members of Croeso Teifi who, with the financial support of Croeso Teifi, decided to set up a small class to support women in the area who want to gain confidence in speaking English. As well as bringing women together who originate from a variety of Arabic speaking countries, the occasion gives them a chance to forge friendships.
Croeso Teifi also responded to the Home Office proposed White Paper, entitle Earned Settlement, expressing our concerns on various points, and asking that the changes should reflect the diversity in our cultural landscape and should focus on the cultural values which refugees bring into our communities, rather than their economic contribution. We also strongly suggested that consideration should be given to those refugees fleeing from dangerous and unpredictable situations.
Finally, I wish to reiterate my sentiments from my last annual report: With seemingly overwhelming stories of conflict on a world scale, we must celebrate our compassion in this corner of West Wales. Faith in humanity overrides those feelings of despair. My thanks go to each and every one who continue to support these three families. It is very rewarding to see them settled into life here in West Wales and I am sure that I speak for all of us when I say that the experience enriches us all.
Sharon Carter (Chair)
Croeso Teifi Annual Report February 8[th] 2025-8[th] February 2026
I am so delighted to be able to continue my gratitude to you all for the successful welcome which you have provided to our three Syrian families over the years. They are an integral part of life here in Cardigan and have deservedly earned the respect of the community.
The second family successfully gained their British citizenship in July 2025 and successfully applied for British passports. Both first and second families were thus able to travel to Syria in August to reconnect with family and friends, understandably it was a very emotional time for all. In November Croeso Teifi put on an afternoon of celebration to mark the award of British citizenship to both families and it was lovely to be surrounded by many of those who were involved with Croeso Teifi in the early days. We were pleased that our MP was able to attend, together with his wife and young son, and we are grateful to him for his continuing support. Thank you also to members of Ceredigion County Council, and to our former mayor of Cardigan who were also able to attend. My thanks also go to the St Dogmael’s Community Choir who entertained us with some beautiful and thoughtful songs, appropriate for the occasion.
The first family continue to thrive in Cardigan. They have all settled in to their new home this last year and are very happy living in Cardigan.
The father continues working full time with a local builder and playing football with the Llechryd 2[nd] Division team this year.
The mother is completing her second year of a four-year full-time Hair Dressing course in Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan and is also following a two-hour on-line ESOL Course weekly in college.
Their eldest son is taking his second year GCSE’s, he has a part time job and is playing for St Dogmaels Under Sixteen Football team, the team are playing in the All Wales Under Sixteen cup final this year.
Their daughter is in her first year GCSE, she plays netball and is a very keen baker.
Their youngest son still has two years in Primary school; he is thriving in their new home being able to play with his school friends every evening. He is now playing for Cardigan Under eights Football team but not a Goalie!
Our second family are similarly thriving. The father is continuing to run his barber’s business in Fishguard and deserves his reputation as a reliable and friendly barber. The mother has a busy time looking after the children. The children are happy and settled in Cardigan; the eldest child has started secondary school whilst the youngest child is now at nursery.
It has been a privilege to see all these children growing up over the last few years and enjoying life here in Cardigan.
This is the fourth year of resettlement in Cardigan for our third family and both parents are consolidating their skills-set with college courses. The father is now in the second year of his
part-time HNC Course, level 4, for Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Pembrokeshire college. He is still volunteering at repair cafes in St Dogmael’s and Newcastle Emlyn, and volunteering at Barnardos. After considering various options, the mother decided to return to college part-time to do the level 3 of the IT course, after encouragement from her former IT tutor that she would do very well. I am extremely grateful to all those of you who are continuing to support the third family as they look to establish themselves in Cardigan.
My thanks also go to the two members of Croeso Teifi who, with the financial support of Croeso Teifi, decided to set up a small class to support women in the area who want to gain confidence in speaking English. As well as bringing women together who originate from a variety of Arabic speaking countries, the occasion gives them a chance to forge friendships.
Croeso Teifi also responded to the Home Office proposed White Paper, entitle Earned Settlement, expressing our concerns on various points, and asking that the changes should reflect the diversity in our cultural landscape and should focus on the cultural values which refugees bring into our communities, rather than their economic contribution. We also strongly suggested that consideration should be given to those refugees fleeing from dangerous and unpredictable situations.
Finally, I wish to reiterate my sentiments from my last annual report: With seemingly overwhelming stories of conflict on a world scale, we must celebrate our compassion in this corner of West Wales. Faith in humanity overrides those feelings of despair. My thanks go to each and every one who continue to support these three families. It is very rewarding to see them settled into life here in West Wales and I am sure that I speak for all of us when I say that the experience enriches us all.
Sharon Carter (Chair)
Croeso Teifi Financial Activity 9[th] February 2025 to 8[th] February 2026
| INCOME Home Rent Bond Refund TOTAL £ |
Opening Bank Balance EXPENDITURE 480.00 Zurich Insurance EXPENDITURE FAMILY 1 Naheda A R Khalil - Equipment for hair dressing course 480.00 |
£8,562.37 260.65 260.65 260.65 283.51 283.51 283.51 |
|---|---|---|
EVENTS EXPENSES
| EVENTS EXPENSES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Room Hire - Guild Hall Room Hire - Church Hall - Spoken English sessions Room Hire Total Expenses Balance Expenses - Income Bank Balance 08/02/26 Petty Cash THIRD FAMILY BUDGET TI DAVIES DONATION HENHURST TRUST Expenses financial year 22/23 Expenses financial year 23/24 Expenses financial year 24/25 Balence Year End 08/02/25 |
40.00 150.00 |
190.00 |
| 190.00 | ||
| 1,000.00 9,000.00 |
||
| 734.16 | ||
| -254.16 £8,308.21 |
||
| £59.00 | ||
| 10,000.00 4,639.60 1,814.08 283.51 |
||
| £2,542.01 |