Local charity Voices in Exile has been awarded a multimillion-pound contract to support refugees arriving in the city for the next 3 years following a competitive tender process.
The charity will help refugees arriving on government resettlement programmes to settle in their new homes, neighbourhoods and schools, and provide support through English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses.
New arrivals will also receive help to prepare for the UK employment market to ensure they can make use of valuable skills and experiences from their home country and contribute to the city.
Over the past 3 years, the majority of arrivals on government resettlement programmes have been Afghan households. So far, more than160 Afghan adults and children – mostly families – have been resettled in Brighton & Hove.
These households have been invited to the UK because of their work alongside the British presence in Afghanistan, or because they are recognised by the UK government as being at particular risk from the Taliban.
Following 3 successful bids to the Local Authority Housing Fund, Brighton & Hove City Council was able to purchase 25 properties, with another 18 in the pipeline, to increase the stock of temporary accommodation in the city.
Sixteen of these properties are being used to provide a safe home for some of the Afghan households during their first years in the UK.
Mel Steel, director of Voices in Exile, said: “Voices is thrilled to have secured the contract to provide integration support, casework, ESOL and employability services to all families arriving in Brighton & Hove on international refugee resettlement schemes for the next 3 years.
“It is a welcome endorsement of all the work we have done with resettled families in the city over the past 8 years, and it is also a very welcome opportunity for us to continue our close collaboration with the council and to continue to develop and improve our services and expertise in working with refugee families.”
Councillor Leslie Pumm, Cabinet Member for Communities, Equality and Human Rights, said: “Congratulations to Voices in Exile for securing this contract, which will help to fund the amazing work they already do in supporting newcomers in the city and helping them to settle into their new environments.
“I’m very proud that we were able to obtain funding to purchase 25 much-needed properties, some of which can now provide a safe space for families who had to leave their homes in the most heartbreaking circumstances.
“We are fully committed to supporting ongoing government efforts to welcome refugees on safe and legal routes, alongside the welcome we offer to all those seeking sanctuary in the city while they await an outcome on their applications.”
