Kingston Council welcomes first Afghan family under new Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
The council has committed to resettling 32 individuals under the ARAP Scheme (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) in Kingston.
Families under the scheme were locally employed staff who supported the British Embassy and Her Majesty’s Government. The first family was relocated to Kingston earlier this month.
Councillor Kirsch, Leader of Kingston Council, said:
“Kingston has a long history of welcoming people from all over the world and supporting those most in need. We are very proud to be providing a safe haven for some of the most vulnerable families fleeing the recent crisis in Afghanistan.
“We are working with the Migrant Advocacy Service to provide wraparound support to families arriving under the ARAP scheme with their integration journeys and making sure they have access to everything they need when they arrive. Save the World Club will furnish homes for the arrival of new families with donations and upcycled furniture, and Learn English at Home will supply individuals with targeted English language support.”
Lubna Maktari, Project Manager & Director, Migrant Advocacy Service, said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming the first family to arrive in Kingston under the Home Office ARAP scheme. This family will be warmly welcomed into our borough and given all the help and support they need to feel at home following the tragic displacement of Afghan nationals from Afghanistan last summer.”
As well as providing 51 Syrian refugees with homes, the council has recently launched an innovative new approach to managing homelessness and rough sleeping. To support this there is a need for more suitable rental properties. If you are interested in renting your property through the council to help a refugee or vulnerable family or those threatened with homelessness, you can find out more on the website.
The council is particularly interested in receiving interest from a range of properties but we are particularly very keen to speak to landlords who have 3 bedroom properties to offer. Think you can help? Please fill in this short form.
The ARAP Scheme is one of several schemes supporting vulnerable families in Kingston.