Refugee support

Translations

To read this page in the Afghanistan Pashto language, please see Google Translate: د افغانستان د اتباعو ملاتړ

To read this page in the Afghanistan Farsi language: حمایت از شهروندان افغانستان

To read this page in the Afghanistan Arabic language: دعم مواطني أفغانستان

Disclaimer: as the translations linked above are provided by Google Translate, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council cannot be held responsible for their accuracy.

Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy

We have provided safe refuge to three families in the borough, meaning that, with our neighbouring councils, Tandridge District Council and Moley Valley District Council, we will be assisting seven households across South-East Surrey who have supported our armed forces through the Government’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP). This is in response to many Afghan people having to flee their homes and country in 2021.

The ARAP is a bespoke resettlement scheme that offers priority relocation to the UK to current or former employed staff in Afghanistan who are assessed to be under serious threat to life. Further information about the scheme can be found on the government’s ARAP scheme fact sheet - GovUK.

Providing support

The Council’s commitment to resettling evacuee families goes beyond providing a place to live. Our Refugee Resettlement Support team is working with a range of partners and voluntary groups to help with:

• health: registration, assessment and ongoing management of physical and mental health
• money management: opening a bank account, making appropriate benefit claims, budgeting, paying bills and becoming financially independent
• education: registering children to schools and supporting them through their learning journey
• English language: accessing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes and intensive learning courses wherever possible
• community integration: supporting families to learn the local area and transport options, as well as integrate into their new community
• parenting and family functioning: assess family function, dynamics, routines and relationships within the family home to help identify the root causes of difficulties.
• the road to work: supporting people to volunteer and move into paid-work opportunities

How you can help

Volunteers

Our dedicated volunteers provide support and assistance with cultural integration for refugee and evacuee families moving into the area of East Surrey. Volunteers support with many aspects of a family’s resettlement, including but not limited to teaching English, helping to learn the area and transport options, befriending and interpreting. We welcome anyone over the age of 18.

For more information, please contact,

• Email: volunteersupport@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01737 276 617

Donations

For members of our community who would like to make other offers of help, due to operational and logistical challenges as well as Coronavirus (COVID-19) control considerations, all Surrey authorities are asking that any donations are financial ones to charities that are best equipped to support Afghan refugees and evacuees directly.

• The Community Foundation for Surrey is set up to administer these donations locally and information on how to donate can be found on their website
• Alternatively, the Red Cross donation website is managing donations and supporting arrivals from Afghanistan
• Wider local support will also be needed from food banks and other charities, which can be found via Surrey Information Point

You can find out more about support for Afghan citizens in Surrey in these Frequently Asked Questions.

Thank you for your generosity and support.

More information

You can read more about our pledge to support for Afghan evacuees in our previous news releases:

• Reigate and Banstead pledge support for the Afghan crisis
• Appeal for homes for Afghan refugees