Council Leader says Swindon is such a welcoming place

Swindon Council Leader David Renard's monthly column.

I have lived in Swindon now for 31 years and I have always been struck by what a welcoming place it is.

The town’s unique location and excellent job opportunities have seen our population grow significantly in recent decades and many of those people who moved to Swindon in search of work have stayed and brought up their own families here.

Like me, many residents soon realised that Swindon is a great place to live but that it also has a strong and diverse community where people look out for one another.

This was particularly evident last year when, in the throes of the covid-19 pandemic, people across the Borough came together to show their caring side and to rally round to help those who needed their support the most.

But we also extend a caring and welcoming hand to people from outside our communities each and every year.

I am sure you will have watched with horror at the events unfolding in Afghanistan over the past few weeks. I have been contacted by many residents to ask if there is anything we can do as a council to support those who have been forced to flee from the Taliban.

I would like to assure all Swindon Link readers that we are doing everything we can and we have already put forward a motion declaring our intention to do everything possible to help those affected.

At the time of writing, I have responded to the Government to pledge our support to the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which will see us find homes for Afghan families who need somewhere to stay.

The ACRS will welcome up to 5,000 people in the first year, up to a total of 20,000 over the coming years, leading the way in the global response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The scheme will provide vulnerable refugees from Afghanistan and those put at risk by recent events in Afghanistan with a route to safety.

I am extremely proud that Swindon has continued to support a number of asylum and refugee programmes over the years.

You may not be aware, but Swindon is one of only five places in the South West that regularly support and house refugees throughout the year.

In fact, we currently have around 300 households in Swindon under this programme including some historic Afghan cases.

We also continue to support the Unaccompanied Children Asylum Seeker Programme and at present look after 30 children who arrived on our shores without any family members

Much of our work to support refugees and those seeking asylum is aided by the fantastic work of local charity The Harbour Project. They are always looking for volunteers and are working tirelessly to support those who have been affected by the events in Afghanistan.

If you can spare a few minutes please have a look at their website harbourproject.org.uk to see for yourself the great work they do on a daily basis and to see how you can lend your support.