A DARWEN refugee support scheme which helped rescued twins stranded at Kabul airport has been awarded a £2,000 grant by the national United Reformed Church to expand its work.

The money will allow it to offer extend its well being support to more people fleeing conflict.

The Darwen Asylum Refugee Enterprise (DARE) is base in the town's Central United Reformed Church and looks after supports 60 families and single men – 200 people in total.

They have fled from countries all over the word, including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, China, Kuwait, Somalia, Oman, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Pakistan, and India..

Now DARE has been awarded a Community Project Award worth £2,000 from the URC nationally for a 'bold and inspirational undertaking'.

Its chairman John East said: “Since last year we have seen a large increase in dispersals along with resettlement schemes and The Ukrainian War.

“We offer our clients and new arrivals a smile, a welcome and a Lancashire brew – giving them safety, peace and practical support after such catastrophic journeys.

"We were even able to assist in the rescue of 15-year-old twins who found themselves stranded at Kabul airport last year.

"The brother and sister were reunited with their family in Darwen where they are now settled and enjoying school and college.

"The mission provides comprehensive support to its clients – from meals and medical care to legal and mental health counselling.

Their Wednesday drop-in sessions feature a variety of helpful and educational events.

"Recent events include half-term family dental care, a talk by local police on hate crime, and a monthly drop-in for TB/hepatitis and Covid check.

"DARE also offers enjoyable social activities like a Teddy Bears Picnic, Yorkshire farm visits, a Christmas train trip, and active fun sessions with the Blackburn Rovers FC Trust.

"Remarkably, this complex project is entirely delivered by a dedicated team of 20 volunteers.

"Several of these are themselves asylum seekers and refugees, doing the essential work of acting as interpreters for DARE services.

“Over the years we have seen asylum seekers and refugees become members and elders of the church."