ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ

Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP)

This scheme was launched by the UK government in March 2025. It brings together different resettlement routes into one system, but the criteria of the schemes remain the same.

Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy (ARAP)

This scheme was launched by the UK government in April 2021 and works with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to relocate current and former Locally Employed Staff who worked with the British Forces in Afghanistan and identified to be at serious risk of threat to life.

Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)

The UK formally opened the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) on 6 January 2022.

The scheme will prioritise:

• those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech, and rule of law
• vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk
• members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+)

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You must apply for asylum if you want to stay in the UK as a refugee.

To be eligible, you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you fear persecution.

Eligibility

To stay in the UK as a refugee you must be unable to live safely in any part of your own country because you fear persecution there and have failed to get protection from authorities in your own country. 

If you’re stateless, your own country is the country you usually live in.

This persecution must be because of:

• your race
• your religion
• your nationality
• your political opinion

Anything else that puts you at risk because of the social, cultural, religious or political situation in your country, for example:

• your gender
• gender identity
• sexual orientation

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If you are from Hong Kong and are a British National (overseas) you and your family members can apply for a British National (Overseas) visa.

Funding support in ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ

The government have provided funding to Councils to support the cost of English language support (up to £850 per year) and any dependents who are destitute or at risk of destitution (up to £2,720 per household). 

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The Resettlement Team is a key service to support those arriving and those sponsoring families as part of the:

The Council and the six district councils are working together with local communities, using their experience of supporting refugees over the last few years, to ensure the county can offer the best experience to those arriving from Ukraine.

Latest figures show that ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ has welcomed over 1500 guests as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The County Council and District Council teams from across ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ continue to work closely together to support guests as they arrive.

If you have registered to be a sponsor as part of the scheme, more information from the Government is available here: 

Contact

If you would like to contact the Homes for Ukraine team, please email at: HomesforUkraine@ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ.gov.uk 

The UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) shows that the UK is still committed to helping refugees. Through this scheme, the UK will keep providing a safe and legal way for vulnerable refugees to come to the country and get protection.

The government makes funding available to allow local authorities, healthcare providers, and community sponsors to support refugees for the duration of the scheme (currently up to 5 years).

The Council have pledged to support this programme and help you live independently in ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ.

Local organisations or services who are in a position to provide practical or emotional support who are not already registered on the Community Services Directory, can register their details here:

• Community Services Directory

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