A family from Afghanistan has been relocated to Kingston under the newly introduced Government scheme.

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme (ARAP) offers relocation support to locally employed staff who are assessed to be under serious threat in Afghanistan.

The Council is also committed to relocating 32 other individuals under the scheme, according to its website.

The first family from Afghanistan 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.”

A Kingston charity, Save the World Club, will furnish homes for new arrivals, and charity, Learn English at Home will also support those with language difficulties.

The Council has also launched a new programme to manage homelessness and rough sleeping.

Kingston Council is currently looking for residents who have a self-contained two or three-bedroom home that would be willing to let their property for a minimum of two years to help a refugee family.

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