Established by the UK Government, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) was launched in April 2021. 

In the summer of that year, local authorities were called upon to expand their support to Afghan personnel who worked alongside the British military as interpreters and translators, as well as at-risk citizens.

As 2024 begins with the theme of ‘Our Home’ at the heart of Refugee Week later this year, one local authority is sharing the story of James Dieterle, deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 as part of the British Army’s Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corp (REME).

James worked as a translator with the Afghan Forces and formed a strong bond with those he worked with. In 2021 he facilitated his Afghan colleague and friend – and subsequently his family – to safety in the UK, following the fall of the Afghan Government.

James’ commitment to the family continued once in he returned home; he became a landlord himself in order to house the family, accessing resources and support to help them resettle and rebuild their lives. It is a moving story which James only now feels ready to share at https://youtu.be/HY4P6rwP_68.

Many local authorities are participating in the scheme: in the case of landlords in James’s area – Somerset – email [email protected].]