‘If we hadn’t come here, our lives would be in danger’ – a refugee’s storyThe people who help the district’s refugees build a new life in BritainHarrogate district welcomes 173 refugees since 2021Refugees set up Harrogate district’s first Afghan pop-up restaurant

A pop-up-restaurant created by Afghan refugees will hold its launch event this month in Knaresborough. 

The Afghan Kitchen will offer food and drink for up to 60 diners at Gracious Street Methodist Church, with both meat and vegetarian menus available. 

The initiative is the brainchild of Nahid Hamidi, who fled Afghanistan in August 2021 when the Taliban seized control of country. Her husband, Jamil, was an interpreter for the British Army – and was even injured in the line of duty – but his role with British armed forces made him and his family an immediate target, so even though they had visas to travel to the UK and were packed and ready to go, they were forced to leave with nothing in an American cargo plane. 

University educated, Nahid was the director of an international charity in the northern province, Badakhshan, and speaks English well. But after the family moved to Harrogate in November 2021, she quickly recognised how difficult it was for many of her fellow countrywomen who lacked the necessary English skills to find work. 

She told the Stray Ferret: 

“I worked for a charity in Afghanistan, and helping is like my hobby! I wanted to help my Afghan lady friends, because they really want to work, and cooking is one thing they really know how to do – we all learned to cook from our mothers. 

“I’m employing two of them so far, but eventually I hope to employ 20 or more. I want to run these events in Skipton, York, and right across Yorkshire.” 

Photo of diners at an Afghan lunch cooked by Nahid for the Refugee Council.

Diners at an Afghan lunch cooked by Nahid for the Refugee Council earlier this year.

The Afghan Kitchen is supported by Harrogate District of Sanctuary, which has been helping the Hamidis and other Afghan families since their arrival in the region. 

Nahid said:

“I really hope it all goes well. There will be Afghan food, Afghan music, and hopefully also an Afghan atmosphere – a real Afghan experience.

“I just want to get feedback as good as I received from the Refugee Council when I cooked lunch for 32 of them – they really liked my food. In Afghanistan, if someone visits and we can’t feed them, it just doesn’t feel right. But if we can, then we’re happy!”

Photo of diners at an Afghan lunch cooked by Nahid for the Refugee Council earlier this year.

Feedback from the Refugee Council lunch for 32 people was overwhelmingly positive.

The first Afghan Kitchen pop-up restaurant will be held on Saturday, September 23 from 7pm to 9.30pm. Tickets are running out fast, but a second event is planned for Harrogate, on Saturday, October 21 at Kairos Church, just off Cold Bath Road.

Two set menus are available: a meat menu at £20 and a vegetarian menu for £17. Both include a starter, main course, bread, salad and dessert. Gracious Street Methodist Church is not licensed, so no alcohol is permitted on the premises. 

Tickets for either of these events can be reserved by emailing TheAfghanKitchenYorkshire@gmail.com.

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North Yorkshire Council awarded £830,000 to support Ukrainian refugee housing

North Yorkshire Council has been awarded £830,715 by the government to support Ukrainian refugees living in the county move into their own homes.

Ukrainian families fleeing war have found places to live through the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme with UK sponsors agreeing to house refugees for a minimum of six months.

However, there have been concerns that if it doesn’t work out between refugees and host families some may fall into homelessness, so the government is offering all local authorities money through its Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG).

The council’s Conservative executive member for culture, arts and housing, Cllr Simon Myers, welcomed the grant in a statement to councillors ahead of a meeting next week.

Cllr Myers said:

“We welcome the additional funding which recognises the commitment of sponsors and the work we have already been doing during difficult economic times and will provide additional support and reassurance to Ukrainian families as they rebuild their lives and seek to overcome the trauma of war.”

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According to NYC, there have been 1,336 arrivals to North Yorkshire since the start of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

This includes 49 refugees who arrived between April and the end June this year.

The number of people still living with a sponsor is 616 and there has been 720 who initially arrived in North Yorkshire but have moved on from their sponsors’ accommodation.

A total of 371 of these have moved onto private rented accommodation and 172 have moved back to Ukraine.

The council said 47 have moved on to another sponsor family outside of North Yorkshire.

Over the winter, the council increased the ‘thank you’ payments for sponsors from £350 to £500 a month and this will be extended until October 2023 when it will again be reviewed.

To help new arrivals settle in, the council also has two dedicated employment advisors who work with Ukrainian residents to help them find training and apply for jobs.

Nationally, more than 117,000 Ukrainians have moved to the UK through the resettlement scheme.

Refugee organises Afghanistan Day at Harrogate College

Harrogate College is hosting its first Afghanistan Day next Tuesday.

The college is seeking to shine a light on Afghan culture in a variety of forms. Artwork and traditional dress will be on display, and poems and songs will be performed throughout the day.

There will also be traditional Afghan food available for a small fee to raise money for women’s healthcare and education.

Afghan refugee Sabreyah Nowrozi is organising the festivities.

Sabreyah said:

“I think most people just know about the war and troubles we’ve had in Afghanistan, but this day will be a chance to show the other side and share information about our culture and the country’s positive qualities.”

Sabreyah is currently studying English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) at Harrogate college after being forced to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021.

She was captain of the Afghan women’s development football team, so was targeted by the Taliban which has banned all women from playing sports.

Sabreyah said her escape was fraught with danger due to the numerous Taliban checkpoints. She managed to flee with help from former captain of her team Khalida Popal, Leeds United F.C and a flight funded by Kim Kardashian.

She has since managed to continue her footballing career at Harrogate Town AFC Women.

Now with herself and her family settled in the UK, she has set her sights on a psychology course at the University of York.

Afghanistan Day on 13 June comes just before refugee week beginning June 19. The theme selected for this year is compassion.

If you are interested in booking a free place at Afghanistan Day click here.

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Harrogate council wins £2.5m from government to house Afghan and Ukrainian refugees

Harrogate Borough Council is set to receive a £2.5 million from central government to help buy 21 homes for Afghan and Ukrainian refugees.

A report will go before the council’s Conservative-run cabinet next week that asks councillors to accept the grant and continue Harrogate’s “long and proud history” of welcoming refugees that dates back to the First World War.

Many Ukrainian families have found homes in the Harrogate district since Russia’s invasion through the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Afghan families have also arrived through resettlement schemes but there is still a “pressing need” to provide homes for those fleeing war zones, according to the report.

The money will come from the Local Authority Housing Fund, which is a £500 million grant fund launched by the government so English councils can provide housing for those unable to find accommodation.

In the Harrogate district, just over £2 million will go towards buying 19 homes for Ukrainians and just under £500,000 will help buy two larger four-bedroom homes for Afghan families currently in temporary accommodation.

Funding from the LAHF equates to 40% of the cost of a single property. A total of £20,000 per property is also available to cover administrative and repair costs.

The government asks that local authorities secure match-funding to raise the remaining money needed to buy a property and the report says Harrogate Borough Council has come to an agreement with Broadacres Housing Association, which is based in Northallerton.

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The LAHF grant will be managed by Broadacres, which will identify and buy the homes with the council’s approval.

They will then be refurbished by the housing association so they can meet the decent homes standards.

The government says all homes should be bought and ready to be moved into by November this year.

The report says:

“Harrogate has a long and proud history of welcoming those fleeing violence and oppression in their home countries. In the past, this has included Belgium victims of the First World War and Jewish people escaping the Nazis.

“More recently the area has welcomed Syrians, vulnerable children, Afghans and Ukrainians.

“The acceptance of these funds will help the UK’s humanitarian duties to assist those fleeing war and ultimately provide a lasting legacy by increasing the supply of accommodation available to local authorities to address homelessness pressures.”

Illegal Migration Bill the hot topic at Ripon meeting this week

The contentious Illegal Migration Bill announced last week by Home Secretary Suella Braverman will come under the spotlight in Ripon on Thursday.

The bill says it aims to “prevent and deter unlawful migration, and in particular migration by unsafe and illegal routes, by requiring the removal from the United Kingdom of certain persons who enter or arrive in the United Kingdom in breach of immigration control”.

Ms Braverman said the bill “will allow us to stop the boats that are bringing tens of thousands to our shores in flagrant breach of both our laws and the will of the British people”.

But it was described by the Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell as ‘immoral and inept’.

Now it will be discussed at a meeting arranged by Ripon City of Sanctuary.

The organisation, which was established in 2016, is part of the national network of City of Sanctuary groups that promote a culture of welcome for asylum-seekers and refugees.

In an invitation to supporters, chair Nicola David said this week’s meeting would explain what the bill really means. RCOS will also provide an update on work it is doing to help families who have resettled locally.

Ms David said:

“There are now 10 families from the Middle East in Ripon – nine brought by the government, and one by our own community sponsorship project. We continue to work very closely with North Yorkshire County Council on this.

“Our community sponsorship family arrived in July last year and those attending on Thursday evening can find out how they’re doing.

“We also have the money in the bank to bring a second family.”

Linton campaign

Last August RCOS was part of the campaign group which achieved a victory against the Home Office and then Home Secretary Priti Patel, when the government had to abandon its plan to place 1,500 asylum-seekers at Linton-on-Ouse – a village of 700 people just outside the Harrogate district.

Ms David said:

“That was to be the first of a series of horrible new ‘asylum accommodation centres’ but more are coming and we are currently supporting various campaign groups around the country who are fighting to get asylum detention centres shut down, or to stop them from reopening.

“The detainees’ only crime is claiming asylum here and we are working with Asylum Matters, Medical Justice and the Helen Bamber Foundation to challenge the government on clause 101 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which would allow the government do whatever it likes on Crown land, including setting up asylum centres, without consulting with local communities or seeking planning permission.”

In addition to its campaigning activities, RCOS has been working to help asylum-seeking veterinary surgeons to pass their UK ‘conversion’ exams, ensuring their exam fees are waived and providing grants towards the cost of their studies.

The programme also includes clothing collections, engagement with around 15 local schools to help raise a generation of young people who understand refugee issues, matching Ukrainians with hosts, and providing specialist support in some cases.

Ms David added:

“There’s a lot to discuss and I hope that as many people as possible can join us on Thursday, when we will be happy to answer any questions they have.”

The meeting will be held at Thorpe Prebend House, which is behind the cathedral on High St Agnesgate at 7.30pm. Light refreshments are being provided by Ripon Cathedral’s C3 group.

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Asylum seekers begin volunteering projects in Harrogate district

Asylum seekers from countries including Iran and Syria have been taking part in a conservation project in the Harrogate district.

The participants have no right to work in the UK while their asylum claims are assessed so they undertook volunteering at Nether Timble Farm, Swinsty to get exercise and regain a sense of purpose.

Those taking part are skilled workers, such as software programmers, digger drivers, electricians and farmers, in their own countries.

Abdul Aziz, Hysni Latif, Ali Reza, Imran and Salih from Syria, Iran, Turkey and Sudan took part in coppicing work at the farm with Josh and Rowan from Leeds Coppice Workers.

Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland rejuvenation that is both productive and good for nature. The group worked hard creating a number of coppice products, including stakes and weaving rods for hedge-laying and bean poles for the garden.

The scheme is part of Nidderdale AONB’s farming in protected landscapes funded project. It is the first of six outings planned to take place throughout the next year. Future visits will offer opportunities to take part in hedge-laying, dry-stone walling, as well as visits to working farms.

Matt Trevelyan, farming in protected landscapes officer at Nidderdale AONB, said:

“Being outdoors is proven to boost mental and physical well-being, and the group really appreciated the day out in the AONB, which despite being a rather grey day in November saw the sun peek out from behind the clouds — the landscape looked its moody best!”

Business Breakfast: Harrogate workshops to help refugees find work

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Recruitment company delivers employment workshops to new communities in Harrogate

Recruitment company, Corecom Consulting, has delivered three employment workshops to refugees in Harrogate.

Managing Director, Jonathan Sanderson, and Delivery Consultant Elise Simpson, approached Migration Yorkshire with a proposal to provide employment support on their Connecting Opportunities scheme.

Elise Simpson said:

“I had volunteered with refugees at university and knew that Corecom’s ethos centres around wellbeing and empowering individuals

Our MD, Jonathan, has already carried out a multitude of activities to promote equality and diversity within the workplace and our local communities so, with his support, I made contact with Migration Yorkshire.”

An initial workshop focused on CV writing, followed up by a second on interview preparation with the final workshop guiding on the use of LinkedIn as a marketing tool.

Following a successful pilot, there are now plans to roll the workshops out to other Connecting Opportunities participants.

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Recognition for Harrogate College’s sustainability work

Harrogate College’s commitment to sustainability has been recognised by a major environmental awards scheme.

The Green Gown Awards celebrates examples of exceptional green projects that are being carried out by education institutions across the country.

Harrogate College reached the finals this year after being shortlisted for the Tomorrow’s Employees category.

The judges said they were impressed by the college’s partnership work to provide retrofit training, delivery of green skills based on local feedback, and efforts to embed sustainability into its courses.

Principal Danny Wild said:

“As a college that is determined to play its part in tackling the climate emergency, we are pleased to see our ever-evolving sustainability work being recognised in this way.

“The Green Gown Awards celebrate best practice in environmental initiatives across the country, so we are in good company.

“This recognition will inspire us to work even harder to become a centre of green excellence and, as outlined in our Sustainability Pledge, become a net zero college by 2035.”