Exmouth: how local residents can help our Afghan refugees

Offers of help and support have been flooding in for the Afghan families who are temporarily staying in a seafront hotel in Exmouth.

Twelve Afghan families, who had worked with and for the UK forces in Afghanistan, arrived in Exmouth on Friday, September 17; read more here.

The families, which include young children, had been flown into the UK in the final days before the fall of Kabul and before the new regime banned flights out of the country.

They had been staying in Covid-19 quarantine facilities in London before being temporarily placed in 'bridging' accommodation in Exmouth.

These families will be staying in the town in the short term until they are found permanent, long-term accommodation in locations across the country.

What do the families need?

Exmouth residents and groups have been coming forward to ask how they can help the families, and have offered donations of pushchairs and toys for the children.

Various local organisations are now seeking specific items for individual families, according to their needs. Many need the following donations:

• Nappies – assorted sizes for babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age
• Baby wipes
• Toiletries
• Sanitary products

• Tesco Express, Rolle Street
• Tesco, Salterton Road
• Co-op, Magnolia Centre
• Rivermead stores, Rivermead Avenue

Any excess donations will be used to help local families in need.

The organisations collecting other donations for the families include Exmouth Food Bank, Exmouth Coastal Churches, Open Door and Exmouth Friends in Need.

The families don't need food donations, as their meals are provided by the hotel in which they're staying.

[H2]'A generous and welcoming community'[H2]

Exmouth Mayor Steve Gazzard, Chairman of Exmouth Town Council, said: "Exmouth has always been a generous and welcoming community willing to help those in need.

"For many years these families helped our Armed Forces and now it's time to help them.

"These families fled their homes at short notice and arrived in the UK with little more than the clothes on their back."

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for communities, said: "All local authorities have been asked to help support with Afghan refugees who worked with and for our UK forces in Afghanistan and who were forced to leave their country as a result of the collapse of the country following withdrawal of US and UK forces.

"After receiving notification from the Home Office these refugees will be temporarily staying in Exmouth as part of the Government's national Afghan resettlement programme.

"We are working closely with our District and Town Council partners, NHS Devon, and local community and voluntary groups to make sure they are provided them with what they need, medical assistance and educational assistance for children."