THE York Amnesty Group would like to alert the readers of The Press to the importance of refugees to our society in this Refugee Week.

Refugees can be regularly portrayed in the media as being an extra burden on resources and more of a problem rather than a positive addition to our country.

It is interesting to note just some of the contributions offered by some well-known refugees to the UK in recent years.

For example, the actor and comic icon Andrew Sachs; the journalist best known for reporting from the conflict in Iraq, Rageh Omar; and our own Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.

These are to name but a few individuals who fascinatingly once had “refugee” status but have gone on to achieve great things.

When we consider the way we may immediately judge the idea of refugees coming to our shores, please let us stop and think about what people can really achieve if they are given a chance.

Matthew Laycock, York Amnesty Group, Fairfax Street, York