George and Dragon set up drop-off point for clothes for Afghan refugees

The George and Dragon, in Castle Street, is teaming up with Care4Calais, a charity delivering essential aid and support to refugees living in the UK, Northern France and Belgium.

Currently Wiltshire Council is making plans to welcome a number of families to Wiltshire as part of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) which started in April and was in place before recent events in Afghanistan made the situation more urgent.

This scheme offers relocation or other assistance to families who will settle in Wiltshire.

The Prime Minister announced in Parliament last Wednesday a new Afghan resettlement scheme is being launched (in addition to the current running ARAP scheme) and the UK is committed to resettle 20,000 refugees with 5,000 in the first year.

He also said that they are committed to taking 5,000 on ARAP but are looking to take 10,000.

Wiltshire Council has said it will help more Afghan refugees settle in Wiltshire once further details emerge of this new resettlement scheme.

In a post on Facebook, the George and Dragon landlords Nathan and wife Madi (with help from step kids Oscar and Louisa) said: "Regardless of how anyone feels about the politics of the situation in Afghanistan, I think we can all feel sympathy for those fleeing the country in sheer panic.

"The government have now promised safe passage for some of these people, but they are fleeing with little more than the clothes on their back.

"We have been researching and found a wonderful charity that have started organising drop off points for people who may wish to donate some old clothes, kids toys or anything that may be of use.

"We have looked on their map, with the aim of donating, and found there was nowhere in Salisbury to drop off. However we have a spare room above the pub, so have decided to partner with them."

The first donation being made

If anyone has any clothes that no longer fit, or is ready to donate some to those fleeing Aghanistan, you can now drop them off, bagged, to the pub, which will then organise their transit to the charity.

Cllr Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Military Civilian Integration, said: “I want to thank our residents who have come forward to ask how they can support people leaving Afghanistan.

"Wiltshire has always opened its doors to those in need and it is heartening to see once again that people are prepared to help. We will be providing more details in due course on how people can provide support."

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council (Image: Wiltshire Council)

For more information on Care4Calais, click here.

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