Councillors visited accommodation set up to support Afghan allies
District councillors have been to Whitehill & Bordon to see first hand the support being offered to Afghan families who helped British Forces against the Taliban.
Cllr Andy Tree, EHDC Deputy Leader, and Cllr Adeel Shah, Portfolio Holder for Community Development and Engagement, visited the temporary accommodation in Trenchard Park, provided by Mears, a housing and care provider.
The Government has set up a programme to find homes for people who worked with the British Military during the occupation of Afghanistan.
During the visit, in November, the councillors were able to see children taught in a school and spoke to staff and members of the Afghan community.
Cllr Tree said: “It was very emotional listening to some of the stories Afghan refugees had to tell and it really brought home to us the importance of what is happening here.
“One told us that he has been on the front line with our British Troops and that members of his close family have been murdered by the Taliban as a direct result of him working for us.
“It was deeply moving and left us in no doubt that we owe him and his colleagues a debt of gratitude through the Afghan resettlement scheme.”
The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) provides people with a safe, quality home with localised support that helps with their introduction to the UK.
Mears has been contracted to provide welfare and wellbeing support, a UK cultural integration programme, health and educational services.
It works closely with partner agencies to facilitate a joined-up and effective transition for these families; enabling them to make the UK their new home successfully.