Melton council last week marked World Refugee Day with councillors, staff and local refugees writing messages of hope on corriboard doves and placing them on the lawns of the Melton Civic Centre.
The gesture of goodwill was aimed at raising awareness of the plight of refugees and the issues that affect them, while also celebrating their contributions to the community.
Research suggests there are about 300 identified refugees living in Melton city, and the council expects this number to increase in coming years.
Mayor Bob Turner said: “We hope that events like our World Refugee Day celebration can help bring better understanding between our different communities and create an environment where refugees can live in safety and make a valuable contribution to our community.”
