Wiltshire residents thanked for "kind" offers to help Afghan refugees
"We are ready to play our part again"
The Leader of Wiltshire Council has thanked residents for their offers of support as the county prepares to welcome refugees fleeing Afghanistan.
Richard Clewer says people from across the county have offered to help those leaving the country.
Currently Wiltshire Council is making plans to welcome a number of families here as part of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy which started in April and was in place before recent events in Afghanistan made the situation more urgent.
Wiltshire Council has said it will help more Afghan refugees settle in Wiltshire once further details emerge of this new resettlement scheme.
Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Military Civilian Integration said:
“I want to thank our residents who have come forward to ask how they can support people leaving Afghanistan. Wiltshire has always opened its doors to those in need and it is heartening to see once again that people are prepared to help. We will be providing more details in due course on how people can provide support.
“The government has given the official statement on numbers coming to the UK and so we are preparing for more to settle in Wiltshire and will be liaising with the government on this. I have been talking to our MPs and the Ministry of Defence about how we can potentially use empty MOD housing and we’re looking at other options as well should they be necessary.
“We were one of the first local authorities to help with the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement scheme and we are ready to play our part once again.”
Anyone wanting to help can offer their support by emailing refugees@wiltshire.gov.uk with details.
CLOTHING DROP OFF
Care for Calais are a charity trying to help give aid and support to refugees living in the UK, Northern France and Belgium.
There is currently a drive for people to donate clothes and the basics to give to refugees coming over from Afghanistan.
There is only one drop off point in South Wiltshire, which is at the George and Dragon pub in Salisbury, who saw that there was no location in the city to do so, so decided to partner up themselves.
It's open everyday from 12pm until 7pm.