A TOWN is set to see a decision on re-homing refugees and asylum seekers, as part of contributing to resettlement schemes across the UK.

Slough could provide homes to five young men and five families with up to two children, as part of three resettlement schemes launched by the government.

With a growing demand for the UK to accept more refugees, Slough Borough Council cabinet members will be asked to approve places as part of three schemes put in place by the government - National Asylum Dispersal (NAD), Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (SVPR) and Unaccompanied Children (UC) – on Monday (27/6). Council housing will not be included as part of contributions to these schemes.

Currently there are eight unaccompanied asylum-seeking children being supported in Slough. At this stage no offer is made to accept any further unaccompanied children, until services for children in the town are more stable – something which would be reviewed by the interim director of children’s services in consultation with the Slough Children’s Services Trust.

All local authorities that agree to take part in the SVPR scheme can specify their preference on the size of a refugee household they are able to accommodate and support.

Slough already supports a number of asylum seekers and refugees, particularly in comparison to other Berkshire authorities.

Currently Windsor and Maidenhead has homed three asylum seekers, Bracknell Forest has five, there are 10 in Reading and none in West Berkshire and Wokingham.

Current government data shows there are 31 refugees on official subsistent support in Slough, however local information suggests there are others who are not easily identifiable, nor are currently recognised by the Home Office for support purposes.

Councillor Sabia Hussain, commissioner for health and social care and education and children, said: “While we all want to do our bit for refugees we have to balance what we might like to offer with what we can realistically offer and I believe Slough’s proposal is reasonable given the limited impact it will have on the town and local services. We will of course continue to review our offer.”

The council has actively engaged with the South East Strategic Partnership in Migration when considering Slough’s suitability to support the government’s schemes and will continue to do so.