Cherwell council leader welcomes Refugees Minister and sets out concerns for future of resettlement schemes

“I am very pleased that Lord Harrington accepted our invitation to meet some of the Ukrainian and Afghan refugees we’ve welcomed to north Oxfordshire"

Minister of state for refugees visited displaced Ukrainians and Afghans in the Cherwell District to see the resettlement work that has been done in the area – and to also hear concerns for future of resettlement schemes.

Lord Harrington was invited to Bicester by the leader of Cherwell District Council, Cllr Barry Wood, to see the work done under the resettlement schemes in the district and to discuss future arrangements for refugees coming to the area.

Minister Lord Harrington also heard about the significant challenges both the supporting organisations and Ukrainian families face as their initial six-month sponsorship arrangements with their UK hosts come to an end.

Up until August 2, 303 visas had been issued for Ukrainian refugees staying with hosts in the Cherwell district, 217 of which are currently residing in the North Oxfordshire district.

Cllr Wood highlighted the different arrangements for refugees under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy, and the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme, and emphasised the need for the different refugee groups to be treated equally.

Cllr Barry Wood said: “We fully support the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme and its other refugee and asylum initiatives. I am proud of the successful work that has been done in Cherwell district to support all those who have needed to make a new start in our area.

“Showing compassion to those caught up in humanitarian crises is something that comes naturally to the communities of Cherwell district and I have been incredibly impressed by the generosity shown by local people and by the hard work and cooperation of our system partners across Oxfordshire. Working with our partners is fundamental to our success, both now and into the future.

“As a housing authority, we are particularly mindful of the desire of our guests to live independently in settled accommodation. Yet, equally, we are under no illusions about the scale of demand for social housing from local people.

“I am very pleased that Lord Harrington accepted our invitation to meet some of the Ukrainian and Afghan refugees we’ve welcomed to north Oxfordshire and I have discussed with him that councils need long term solutions to support all those who need to make a new life in the UK.”