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The United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) was set up to provide refugees from war-torn countries a “safe and legal” route into the UK. The scheme largely welcomes refugees from Syria but has also included Iraqi, Sudanese and South Sudanese people. It does not include people from Ukraine, Hong Kong or Afghans who worked for the British Army.

Other than Craven, every other district in North Yorkshire such as Hambleton, Selby and Scarborough has received between 17 and 57 refugees since 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with a Digital subscription to Yorkshire Post, you can get access to all of our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. North Yorkshire Council’s assistant chief executive for local engagement, Rachel Joyce, said the authority’s focus is on providing “the most appropriate accommodation for them” once they arrive rather than spreading people evenly across the county.



Angie Pedley from Craven District of Sanctuary, which supports refugees in the area, said the council prefers to place refugees near to where people speak the same language as them, such as in Harrogate. She said Syrian families that initially came to Skipton have now moved on. Ms Pedley said: “The council prefers to settle people into hubs.

They feel, and I can see the point, that people are happier if there are others around who speak the same language. In Harrogate, they are building their own mosque and they have events t.

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