Deputy mayors visit refugees in ‘proud borough of sanctuary’
Islington has welcomed 580 Afghan refugees since 2021 and now leads London’s resettlement efforts
Friday, 27th June — By Caitlin Maskell
London deputy mayors Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard and Tom Copley, centre, with Cllr Sheila Chapman and Cllr John Woolf
TWO of London’s deputy mayors visited Islington to meet refugee families resettled in reclaimed council homes.
Councillor John Woolf said Islington was a “proud borough of sanctuary”, as Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, deputy mayor for communities, and Tom Copley, deputy mayor for housing, visited the homes of families from Sudan, Somalia and Afghanistan alongside councillors during Refugee Week last Friday.
Since 2021 Islington has welcomed 580 Afghan refugees and now leads London’s resettlement efforts.
Meeting a family
With support from the Greater London Authority, the council plans to reclaim 907 homes by March 2026, including 193 newly announced purchases.
Councillor Woolf, the executive member for homes and neighbourhoods, added: “We’re leading the way in our buyback programme which is not only helping to ease the housing crisis but also offering a lifeline to those most in need.”
Tom Copley said: “The initiative has already made a huge difference to hundreds of families, whose stories are a powerful reminder of the importance of a safe and secure home.”
