A REFUGEE family will soon be moving to Llanidloes thanks to generous donations from the community to help them resettle from Afghanistan.

Llanidloes is the first place in Powys to embrace community sponsorship, according to a group working to resettle the vulnerable refugee family in the town.

The project led by Croeso i Lanidloes has so far raised £13,000 during the past 18 months to help the family settle in a home which is ready for them to arrive in the next two to three months.

Croeso i Lanidloes started in September 2021 after a group of Llanidloes residents were moved by watching scenes of the Taliban moving into Kabul which sparked the evacuation in Afghanistan.

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Mary Browning, from Croeso i Lanidloes, said: “They were so frightened. That really touched our hearts and set off this group. It’s a project that has evolved quickly and will be having an impact on the town quite soon hopefully.

“It’s about galvanising a local group to provide the resources so that the family can be resettled, who come with the Home Office’s blessing, and they will be resettled in local community with a support group to make sure they’re welcome, have everything they need, education, medical needs, and get benefits so they can survive.”

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Llanidloes Mayor Councillor Jamie Jones said: “It’s an extraordinarily worthy cause. Care and compassion are sadly not in enough supply these days. I offer my full support and endorse your work which I have much admiration.”

Councill Gareth Morgan agreed, adding that “people have been welcomed years ago and their descendants are still going strong. I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

Mayor Jones added: “Same with the Ukrainians. We have a good track record in Llanidloes."