SKIPTON is preparing to welcome its second family of Afghan refugees as it looks into getting 'district of sanctuary status' heard a meeting of Craven District Craven.

A family of 12 had been settled into the town in December, the father had secured a full time job and the family is being supported by council staff and the Craven Refugee Support Network, heard councillors.

The council is now in the process of kitting out another house, and it hoped a second family from Afghanistan would be arriving soon.

Councillor Simon Myers, responding to a question, by Cllr Andy Brown, said a report on how the council could secure 'district of sanctuary' status for Craven would be going to the June policy meeting of the council.

He explained how the council with private landlords had been able to help refugees from Afghanistan, but that it was playing a lesser role with the resettlement of people from Ukraine.

North Yorkshire County Council was leading on the resettlement of Ukrainians, but Craven officers had been involved with the inspection of premises.

He said: "In December, we resettled an Afghan family of 12 into private rented property in Skipton. They are very well settled and the father is in full time employment. They are being supported by council staff and in particular, the Craven Support Network. We are now in the process of kitting out another property in Skipton for another Afghan family who we hope to welcome within May."

He added: "With homes for Ukraine, we are not as hands on. The Government scheme does not particularly involve district councils, we have no active role in sourcing accommodation, or matching households to families. To date, our role has been to carry out joint visits with the county council to assess suitability of accommodation; eight visits have been carried out in the last week or so."

Cllr Myers said the county council was promising wrap around support for both hosts and guests, and regular meetings with the district council were taking place to discuss any issues, but that it was still 'early days'.

Cllr Chris Rose, who originally asked about sanctuary status at the last full council meeting, welcomed the progress and said gaining the status would be a lasting legacy for the council in its last year.

She also welcomed that help was being given to Afghan refugees at the same time as people from Ukraine.

Cllr Brown said he was aware of someone in his ward who was in the process of trying to offer accommodation to a family from Ukraine, but despite help locally, including from North Yorkshire County Council, and Skipton MP Julian Smith, was being frustrated by Government bureaucracy.

He said they were also waiting to hear what help there would be for a family 'severely traumatised' by what they had experienced.

Cllr Brown, said: "Local people have put themselves out to try and help refugees from conflict in Ukraine. Despite really helpful support from a wide range of local agencies including the local MP's office the national system has completely let them down."