Our thoughts go out to the families and individuals in Afghanistan affected by the current humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in the country. We’re fully supportive of the government’s commitment to resettle Afghan refugees in the UK and we stand ready to welcome them and support them.
Central Bedfordshire is a place that welcomes refugees, and we are ready to support Afghans in their time of need, providing shelter and safety, and helping them to rebuild their lives. A whole range of council services will be involved in ensuring refugees from Afghanistan have the support they need, these includes support from our housing team, children’s and adult social care and schools and educational services as well as health partners.
Our dedicated teams acted early to engage with the government and we welcomed and homed our first families on 9 August, and we are supporting them to settle into their new homes and access education and employment. Working within the government arrangements, we will continue to play our part in supporting the national effort to help those affected by the unfolding crisis.
I know that many of our residents want to help support these families, so below we have compiled a list of organisations and charities that support those affected by this humanitarian crisis.
Councillor Richard Wenham
Leader of the Council
The resettlement process
There are two different government schemes to assist with the resettlement of people from Afghanistan.
1. Locally Employed Staff (LES) relocation scheme or Afghanistan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
This is to support the locally employed staff who often worked in dangerous and challenging situations. In recognition of their bravery, those who choose to relocate to the UK with their families will not be expected to return to Afghanistan.
This work has been underway for many months. Throughout August families were often matched to their accommodation often before they even arrived in the UK. We currently have two families we have housed and are supporting in Central Bedfordshire.
2. Afghan Citizens Resettlement
The government has announced a new Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme, which will allow Afghan citizens most in need to resettle in the UK. Eligibility details are being developed at pace, but they are not yet finalised.
The process for resettling Afghans is described below.
Step 1: Quarantine
Afghanistan is a red list country for COVID-19 so all refugees must quarantine. Individuals are taken straight to quarantine hotels where they must isolate. The quarantine hotels are managed by the Home Office. Whilst individuals and families are in the quarantine hotels, they are assisted with the immediate provision of goods, clothes and medicines that they require. Health services are fully involved to assess medical need and to provide support. There are Liaison Officers placed at each Hotel by the Home Office to assist with this and for collecting information on each individual and household size, medical needs, educational needs etc.
There are no quarantine hotels are within the Central Bedfordshire area.
Step 2: Bridging Accommodation
At the end of quarantine, individuals and families are moved to what is being described as bridging accommodation – a different hotel which will be wherever there is availability and may not be within the same area they have been quarantined, individuals will be able to leave the bridging accommodation and explore the local area.
Local councils will provide support to individuals and families in bridging accommodation in their area. Individuals will remain in this accommodation until they have their eligibility confirmed for one of the two schemes i.e. LES relocation scheme or Afghan Citizens Resettlement.
At this moment in time, only individuals who meet LES requirements are being assisted further as eligibility for the Afghan Citizens Resettlement scheme is not yet confirmed.
Step 3: Long-term accommodation
Once eligibility is confirmed, individuals and families are matched by the Home Office with a suitable property, that could be anywhere in the UK depending on what becomes available first that is suited to their household size and need. Local councils will have a greater role to play in supporting people as they start to rebuild their lives in long-term accommodation.
We're working closely with the Home Office and MHCLG to source properties that can be matched to households ready to leave the bridging accommodation and we are updated regularly on what the requirements are.
At the moment, the number of properties required is relatively low because individuals cannot be moved on from bridging accommodation until their identities are confirmed, until their health and wellbeing needs are known and there is assurance they can be met.
What can you do to help?
There has been a lot of interest from residents of Central Bedfordshire who wish to volunteer or donate goods. At the moment, there is no need for donated items for the small number of families who are in Central Bedfordshire. So, for now, the best way to help is to give money to national charities. Of course, this may change as refugees move to long-term accommodation and start rebuilding their lives. We are discussing with local voluntary organisations how they may be able to support this effort and when we have further details, we will communicate this.
You can also help by making any families that are relocated in your neighbourhood feel welcome and supported.
If you want to help, you can do so by donating or volunteering through the following charities.
Make a donation
- British Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal to help people suffering in Afghanistan
- Refugees at home is a UK charity which connects those with a spare room in their home to refugees and asylum seekers in need of somewhere to stay
- UN Refugee Agency supports families forced to flee war, conflict, and persecution.
- Unicef is running an appeal to help protect children in Afghanistan
- Save the Children has launched an emergency campaign to support young people in Afghanistan
- Refugee council helps to resettle refugees and supports them to rebuild their lives
Donating clothes, books and toys
If you want to donate clothes / books / toys etc, you can donate these to Save the Children charity shops and Oxfam charity shops. The items won’t go directly to child refugees, but the money raised helps charities to support them.
Housing
The government has launched a portal where businesses and property owners can register entire homes that they have available to support people arriving from Afghanistan.
Volunteering
Several charities and organisations are working with refugees across the UK. To find out more about volunteering opportunities visit the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
You could also contact the Refugee Council, the British Red Cross or Refugee Action to find out more about volunteering to support asylum seekers and refugees already in the UK.
More information about ways people can support will be added to this page as it becomes available.