Council helps Afghan residents fleeing home country

A Berkshire town will welcome 300 Afghan residents who have fled their home country in the coming months.

Bracknell Forest Council is participating in the government's Afghan Resettlement Programme, which offers relocation to its citizens.

Around 300 Afghans will be supported, with additional residents expected in the future.

The authority said the programme would start in the spring and it does not yet know how many more residents will arrive, or when.

Those being resettled worked for, or with, the UK government to support its mission in Afghanistan - or are considered vulnerable or in danger from the Taliban, which took control of the country in 2021.

Many Afghans who worked to help the UK mission in Afghanistan, including in specialist units, have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

They are also not classed as illegal immigrants, asylum seekers or refugees, the council said.

The programme comes after the defence secretary, John Healey, said local authorities were "essential to make this vision a reality".

Families will arrive in three groups and can stay up to nine months in their transitional accommodation, while searching for a permanent home.

Leader of Bracknell Forest Council Mary Temperton said: "We have a long history of being kind, supportive and caring to people who have experienced trauma and turbulence in their lives, meaning they can no longer stay safely in their home country."

Funding for the national scheme has come from the government and does not impact local council tax.

The authority is also working with NHS Frimley to offer support to new patients in the area and explained the location of transitional accommodation would not be disclosed.

Ms Temperton added Bracknell Forest needed "to play our part" by offering "safe and secure" homes to the new residents.

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