Almost 2,000 refugees have come to Bristol over the past six years, figures reveal

Over half have come from Ukraine, with hundreds also arriving from Afghanistan.

The support is funded by the Home Office and includes help with finding a home, registering with a doctor, opening a bank account, English classes and accessing jobs.

A case worker is allocated for the first year in Bristol, with further welfare checks over the next few years.

Bristol City Council is preparing to resettle another 30 families each year until March 2027, with around half coming from Afghanistan.

Councillors on the adult social care policy committee will be updated about the proposals during a public meeting on Monday, September 2.

A committee report said: “The resettlement team are experienced in providing comprehensive support in resettling refugees in Bristol.

“The work of the team has contributed to a local infrastructure that helps Bristol City Council better support people affected by forced migration.”

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Since 2016, the council’s resettlement team has helped 403 refugees from the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme; 443 from the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; and 49 from the UK Resettlement Scheme. 1,046 Ukrainians were settled in the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The Afghan scheme opened in January 2022, supporting people who assisted the UK’s efforts in Afghanistan.

It’s open to people evacuated by the British government, referred by the United Nations, or at-risk contractors from the British Council and GardaWorld.

These figures don’t include people seeking asylum in Britain but who are not yet processed, many of whom must stay in hotels and cannot legally work.

Some people staying in a hotel near Bristol recently criticised the quality of food they are served there, reportedly saying it was “not fit for an animal”, including uncooked chicken and unwashed salad.

One hotel in Bristol was targeted by far-right protesters at the start of August, but were held back by a human chain of counter-demonstrators as the police initially left the building unguarded.

Hotels elsewhere in the country were badly damaged by far-right protesters.