Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy

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

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+)

Afghan citizens resettlement scheme (GOV.UK)

Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (GOV.UK)

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. 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

You must have failed to get protection from authorities in your own country.

Click the useful links below for help and support within Worcestershire:

Claim asylum in the UK: Overview (GOV.UK)

Asylum support: Overview (GOV.UK)

Local and national support organisations

If you’re from Hong Kong and are a British National (overseas) you and your family members can apply for a British National (Overseas) visa. To find out more, see: British National (Overseas)

Below are some useful links to help you settle in Worcestershire:

Welcome: a guide for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders in the UK (GOV.UK)

Local and national support organisations

Welcome groups

Funding Support in Worcestershire

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). 

Should you require this support or more information please contact the Resettlement Team at Worcestershire County Council by email at: resettlement@worcestershire.gov.uk 

The Resettlement Team is a key service to support those arriving and those sponsoring families as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Worcestershire County 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 Worcestershire is preparing to welcome over 1500 guests as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The County Council and District Council teams from across Worcestershire 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: Homes for Ukraine: record your interest (GOV.UK)

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

The UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) reaffirms the UK’s ongoing commitment to refugee resettlement, which continues to be an important component of the UK’s humanitarian response. Under the UKRS, the UK will continue to offer a safe and legal route to vulnerable refugees in need of 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).

Worcestershire County Council have pledged to support this programme and help you live independently in Worcestershire.

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 on the Community Services Directory.

See UK resettlement programmes (GOV.UK) for more information.