Kingston’s response to the situation in Afghanistan

What is the Council doing to help support those fleeing the situation in Afghanistan?

Kingston Council has pledged to support the people of Afghanistan by providing resettlement opportunities for over 60 individuals within the borough.

There is a range of resettlement schemes currently operating in the United Kingdom, funded by the UK government, which support different groups of people. There are two schemes that were set up in response to the situation in Afghanistan which we will be supporting: 

1. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), supports Afghan nationals who have supported British efforts in the country. This scheme is currently in operation since being launched in April 2021, and we are already supporting one family under this scheme.

2. The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), allows Afghans most in need, including women and children, to resettle in the UK. This scheme launched in January 2022. 

Why does the Council support resettled families?

Kingston Council prides itself on providing sanctuary to refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable resettled families. We believe there is strength in diversity, and we strongly believe that we should open our doors to support those who need it. 

It is worth noting that Afghan families being resettled in Kingston are not classed as “refugees”, but rather are supported by the Home Office resettlement schemes mentioned above: the Afghan Relocations & Assistance Policy (ARAP), and the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). Many of the people fleeing the Taliban and being resettled in Kingston are those that supported the British military in Afghanistan, and we, therefore, have a responsibility to protect them. Kingston is proud to provide a welcoming response to such individuals and their families.

How can I help?

We are now in a position to accelerate our efforts to accommodate Afghan families into the borough. We are in need of private landlords who are able to offer their self-contained flats or houses for rent. If this is you and you wish to help, please fill out this form so we can assess the suitability of the property. Alternatively, if you have any further questions on this scheme, please contact refugee-migrantschemes@kingston.gov.uk.

If you do not have a property you are able to offer, there are still plenty of ways you can help:

Local Support

• Sign up with Volunteering Kingston - sign up to hear about local volunteering opportunities to support and welcome families from Afghanistan.
• Refugee Action Kingston (RAK) supports refugees in our borough through a range of initiatives, including community activities and language classes.
• Learn English At Home (LEAH) is looking to hire more volunteer English language tutors to help support refugees and asylum seekers living in the Kingston area. If you are interested in joining the team and receiving their free specialised training program, please contact them on 0208 255 6144.
• Migrant Advocacy Service (MAS) is currently working with Kingston Council to provide targeted support to families under the ARAP scheme. They are looking for volunteers to help run or take part in a variety of activities designed to enable Afghans to settle into the local community.  To find out more about how you can help, please contact Lubna Maktari on 07738762636 or via email: info@migrantadvocacyservice.org.uk
• Save The World Club (STWC) is a charity that aims to save items from landfill and put them to good use. If you have any furniture or household goods in good condition you no longer want, and you'd like to donate to local causes like this, please get in contact with Des on: 07962231830 to donate. Alternatively, see "The Circulatory" tab on our website for directions and our open times. 

Wider Support

• Emergency relief charities, such as The International Rescue Committee and the British Red Cross, are still working on the ground in Afghanistan.
• Women for Women International helps female survivors of war rebuild their lives.
• Charities such as Care4Calais are preparing to support refugees arriving in the country by collecting donations of clothes and supplies.
• Afghanaid provides kitchen kits that allow people who have left their homes to cook and safely store food.
• Refugees at Home is a UK charity that connects those with a spare room in their home to refugees and asylum seekers in need of somewhere to stay.

How will Afghan families be housed?

Families arriving through the Government’s resettlement schemes will be housed in private accommodation sourced independently by the resettlement team, so their arrival will not impact the Council’s housing register in any way.

How is the Council’s support for Afghan families paid for?

Like the Vulnerable Person’s Resettlement Scheme, through which Kingston has resettled 15 Syrian families since 2015,  Afghan families resettled in Kingston will receive funding from the Home Office through the relevant scheme.

What about services, like school places?

Families resettled in Kingston will be assigned a caseworker, who will help ensure that they are linked to necessary services. The Home Office has also announced additional funding to provide additional school places, support from the NHS, and to help with housing costs. This comes under the Government’s ‘Operation Warm Welcome’.

How will Afghan families integrate into the community?

Afghan families will receive support to integrate into their local communities. This will be provided through collaboration between Kingston Council’s resettlement team and local charity partners. They will also receive English language classes and be told about how to access and navigate, services.