Hundreds of people from Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as hundreds more asylum seekers, are being supported and settled around Swindon.

The latest government figures show how the town is helping people in need from overseas who are seeking sanctuary after escaping warzones and other perils.

As of March 2024, 279 people have been supported through the Homes for Ukraine scheme after fleeing the Russian invasion of their home country which began in February 2022.

Plus, 124 Afghanistan citizens are being supported under a Home Office scheme following the Taliban seizing power in that area of the Middle East in the summer of 2021.

The local authority says that 43 Afghan refugees are still in transitional hotel accommodation, while eight others are currently in temporary accommodation and 73 more have been resettled in secure, long-term accommodation.

Separate from the Ukraine and Afghanistan support schemes, national government figures indicate that, as of February 29, 2024, there were 744 asylum seekers in Swindon.

Of these, 413 were in dispersed accommodation and 331 were in contingency accommodation.

So, the total figure for those currently seeking asylum or resettlement in Swindon is an estimated 1,147 people, which is around 0.5 per cent of Swindon’s population of 233,713 people.

Swindon Borough Council is working with the Home Office, as well as other national government representatives, and local community organisations like Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, the Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership, The Harbour Project, and Swindon City of Sanctuary, to make the new arrivals feel welcome.

Cllr Janine Howarth is Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet member for housing.

She said: “We have a team of dedicated staff providing wrap-around support services to Afghan and Ukrainian arrivals in Swindon, ensuring these individuals have access to essential health care, education, suitable accommodation and can support themselves financially.

“Our intensive support allows us to alleviate additional pressures from other services and provides some stability for this particularly vulnerable cohort of people.

“We feel our Afghan and Ukrainian communities are on a very positive path to live and thrive independently in Swindon where they have found refuge.

“The council and its partners continue to ensure asylum seekers accommodated in the town are supported by all our statutory services including health and education services.

“Accommodation is funded by the government directly from the Home Office.”