By KLTV Newsdesk –

Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council has released a statement on how the council will be supporting people arriving from Afghanistan in the wake of recent events in the country.

Cllr Pandor says that “Kirklees is a place of welcome” and that they “are ready to support any humanitarian response to the situation in Afghanistan.”

Programmes for support

Currently, there are two different programmes in place in Kirklees to support people coming from Afghanistan, one current and one new.

The first is the ongoing Afghan Relocation Scheme which Kirklees is signed up to.

This is a scheme to move people out of Afghanistan who worked alongside the armed forces and their lives are seen to be at serious risk.

Kirklees Council says they are already supporting people through this scheme.

The second programme, The Afghan Resettlement Programme, was announced this week. The plan is to bring in 20,000 people to the whole of the UK in response to the current situation – but the details of this are not yet confirmed.

Offered help in Kirklees

The council says they will offer a range of help and support to those arriving from Afghanistan in Kirklees.

Council staff from Housing Solutions and in the International New Arrivals team will meet and support families with immediate needs including health, understanding life in the UK and Kirklees, and children starting school.

The Sanctuary Clothing Project is providing clothes and footwear if needed.

There will also be a series of Partnership Welcome Sessions at community venues.

Welcome mentors are a group of volunteers who speak a range of community languages. They are assisting with easing arrivals into Kirklees providing befriending and buddying support.

The This Way for English Programme is also providing English language support.

There will also be a range of sports and physical activities on offer and several local groups and organisations are offering to be a place of welcome.

‘A place of safety’

In his statement, Cllr Pandor said: “Many of the people arriving in the UK have worked with British forces over the past few years and it’s right that we can offer them a place of safety until they find something more permanent.

“It’s very likely that Kirklees will also be housing people arriving from Afghanistan under the Afghan Resettlement Programme, likely within hotels, but it has not been confirmed yet how many people or where they will be staying.

“Kirklees has a really proud record when it comes to supporting others and we’re once again ready to support people who desperately need our help.”

Full Statement

The full statement from Cllr Pandor can be read below:

“Firstly, I want to be really clear about our position as a council. Kirklees is a place of welcome and we are ready to support any humanitarian response to the situation in Afghanistan. Many of the people arriving in the UK have worked with British forces over the past few years and it’s right that we can offer them a place of safety until they find something more permanent.

“This will involve working closely with the Home Office and other key partners so Kirklees can help to house and support those whose lives that are in danger and at risk. We are working through with our partners how we do this, with safe accommodation and the right health, social and wellbeing support being of paramount importance in our planning.

“It’s very likely that Kirklees will also be housing people arriving from Afghanistan under the Afghan Resettlement Programme, likely within hotels, but it has not been confirmed yet how many people or where they will be staying.

“We’re continuing to work closely with the Home Office and Migration Yorkshire and when we have details confirmed we will share them with you. In preparation, our council teams and partners are working to pull together a Local Integration offer that can be stepped up if needed. This builds on the great partnership work already in place across Kirklees.

“Kirklees has a really proud record when it comes to supporting others and we’re once again ready to support people who desperately need our help. However, I am also urging Government to make sure all local authorities are available and asked to support the Afghan refugees and that councils across the country are given the resources they need to provide safety and support.”

How residents can help

If you’re interested in helping, there are a few different ways to get involved.

Donations of clothing can be made to the Sanctuary Kirklees Clothing Project. To do so Contact Jane Wood on sanctuary@yahoo.com

Volunteer your time to help by becoming a Welcome Mentor, more details can be found on the Third Sector Leaders website Welcome Mentors – Third Sector Leaders (tslkirklees.org.uk)

If you can offer activities or things people could go to please send your details through to MigrationAndResettlement@kirklees.gov.uk