Council Responds To Calls To Do More To Help Afghan Refugees


Borough 'to play full part' in welcoming arrivals


Evacuations of refugees from Kabul airport continues. Picture: MoD

Wandsworth Council has said that it is ready to play a full part in the government’s plan to welcome Afghan refugees into the country.

The borough was responding to calls made by members of the local Labour Party last week, including the three MPS representing constituencies in the area, to announce details of the level of support they would be offering.

The council says is already in conversations with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and the Home Office about the support it could provide to those fleeing danger in Afghanistan and is awaiting further details of the government’s planned resettlement scheme.

Council Leader Ravi Govindia said, “The unfolding events in Afghanistan have touched us all and Wandsworth is ready to play its part in welcoming people displaced from Afghanistan into the borough.

“Wandsworth has a long and proud history of welcoming migrants, from the Huguenots in the 17th century onwards. Most recently, it has supported the Syrian Refugee scheme, under which it has facilitated the resettlement of 51 people in 12 families since October 2016, securing them accommodation and supporting their integration into education and employment.

“We know that the borough’s Afghan community are particularly concerned at this difficult time and we are now waiting for more detail from the Government to arrange whatever assistance is required.”

Meanwhile the Council is requesting that residents, businesses, or other landlords who could offer a property for new arrivals to rent register their details. The government has indicated that the refugees are likely to be families, and so the council is particularly keen to hear from those able to offer 3 and 4 bed properties.

Properties will need to be available to rent on an assured shorthold tenancy for a minimum of 12 months, with rent levels set within the limits of the local housing allowance.

For more information contact landlordlettings@wandsworth.gov.uk or call 020 8871 7333.

People who want to help can also contact the Refugee Council, the British Red Cross or Refugee Action to find out more about volunteering to support asylum seekers and refugees already in the UK.

Value Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More

This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism.

Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets.

We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more.

However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do.

We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area.

A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site.

One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute.

If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor.

For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site.


August 24, 2021