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Hundreds of thousands of pounds has been awarded to Harrow borough to ensure "migrants continue to be a positive and welcome part of Harrow’s community".

Harrow Council was successful in its bid for government cash from The Controlling Migration Fund, set up to support local areas facing pressures linked to recent immigration.

Harrow's local authority will spend its £400,000 slice of the cash on free courses, community care and English lessons to hundreds of new arrivals to the area.

The Home Office has set aside £25 million a year between 2016/17 and 2019/20 to "mitigate negative impacts on the provision of local services linked to recent migration".

A statement on the fund, on the Home Office website read: "Migration can place short-term pressures on some services and social pressures in areas where communities find it hard to integrate.

"In addition, illegal immigration exacerbates these problems and can lead to criminal behaviour and exploitation."

Harrow is one of only four London boroughs to win money from the Controlling Migration Fund.

(Image: PA)

Cash is handed over to local authorities on the basis that it must not directly help illegal immigrants.

Cllr Sachin Shah, leader of Harrow Council, said: “Harrow is proud to be one of the most diverse places in the country.

"We know that migrants can offer so much in the way of skills and cultural enrichment.

"To make the most of this, we need to ensure they have the opportunities to make a positive contribution to their communities and this fund will go a long way to making sure that happens.

(Image: Harrow Observer)

“We’re going to fund a teacher to provide English lessons, which will help families integrate and increase their ability to contribute economically.

"That not only reduces their reliance on the council, but allows us to tap into the skills we need in the borough.

“The fund will also help us reach out to more host families, easing pressure on our housing stock.

"Make no mistake, this funding is about ensuring migrants continue to be a positive and welcome part of Harrow’s community.”

'This new funding will help councils rise to the challenge'

The Controlling Migration Fund (CMF) was launched last November, and is divided into two parts, with £100m to help English local authorities and £40m for direct enforcement action against people in the UK illegally.

"The range of support Harrow can now offer with its grant is as diverse as the community it is designed to help", the council said.

As well as an outreach social worker, a social care assistant will be employed to help migrants learn some day-to-day skills like cooking.

Harrow will also run good citizenship courses to aid integration and improve awareness of social norms, and health screening for new arrivals.

Communities secretary Sajid Javid said: “Migration brings great benefits to this country but, in some places, significant population changes in a short space of time have put pressures on public services.

"This new funding will help councils rise to the challenge.”

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