Refugee groups in Kingston will benefit from the Migration Fund money awarded to Kingston Council (RBK) earlier this month.

As the Comet reported last week, RBK were one of a number of local authorities to be awarded funding from central government as part of the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government's £100 million 'Controlling Migration Fund'.

RBK announced plans for how it would spend the £164,443 Kingston borough was allocated from the fund.

A spokesperson for RBK said that existing projects to help migrants and refugees learn English would receive funding, while Kingston's foremost refugee advocacy group — Refugee Action Kingston — would also benefit.

"The funding will be used to provide activities that improve health and employment outcomes as well as reducing pressure on local services.

"This includes English classes in partnership with the New England Seafood Company and Learn English at Home.

"As well as an employment project to support refugees with volunteering and employment opportunities which will be delivered by Refugee Action Kingston," the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, a healthy eating project, designed to tackle obesity in the borough and run by Kingston's Independent Yemen Group, will be allocated money from the fund, RBK added.