Plans to welcome more than 200 Afghan refugees to Birmingham

Birmingham is set to welcome 220 Afghan refugees to the city by 2024.

Earlier this year 80 Afghan interpreters and their families were resettled in Birmingham following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, which was part of phase one of the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Programme (ARAP).

And now a report outlining recommendations to accept 110 refugees per year in 2022/23 and 2023/24, from phase two of the scheme, is due to be considered by the city council’s cabinet next week, on 14 December.

It also seeks approval for an estimated £1,595,227 to be allocated to provide support to individuals arriving via these schemes during their first 12 months residence in the UK.

The scheme could also continue during 2024/25 and 2025/26, providing the scheme remains open and Home Office funding is not substantively changed.

What’s been said about the scheme?

Cllr John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Community Safety and Equalities, said: “Birmingham is a compassionate city and we will work with our partners to ensure that the new arrivals are made to feel welcome as they start to build new lives here.

“Even before the Afghanistan crisis, we made it clear to the government that more needed to be done to support councils. Refugees are vulnerable people in need of support and the government must help the communities, towns and cities that welcome those fleeing war and persecution across the world.”

In Birmingham, people arriving via these schemes will have immediate Indefinite Leave to Remain and full access to public funds.

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