Westmorland and Furness Council privacy notice Global Resettlement Service

This privacy notice covers the global resettlement schemes as enacted by the UK Government.

Contents: 

The resettlement schemes

Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)

providing resettlement support to Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles and their eligible dependants. Starting on 1 April 2021, it remains open to applicants. Individuals may remain on the Scheme for up to three years from date of arrival in the Westmorland and Furness area. Support may continue after that date if necessary. 

Afghan Citizens Assistance Scheme (ACRS)

ACRS supports Afghan citizens, together with their eligible dependants, who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech, and rule of law. Also included are vulnerable people, including women and girls at risk, and members of minority groups at risk (including ethnic and religious minorities and LGBT+). 

ACRS consists of three pathways of target groups within the criteria. Individuals arriving in Westmorland and Furness on any of the three pathways are able to remain on the scheme for three years from arrival in our area. Support may continue after that date if necessary.

Homes for Ukraine (guests and hosts)

The Homes for Ukraine Scheme is open to Ukrainian nationals who lived in Ukraine before 1 January 2022, and to their immediate family members (for example, spouse or partner, and children under 18) who may be other nationalities. The scheme allows them to be sponsored by hosts to come to the UK and to live with their host in the family home or in self-contained accommodation provided by the host. Both hosts and Ukrainian guests are supported by the Westmorland and Furness Global Resettlement Service for the duration of the Scheme and support is continued if guests move into independent rented property. 

UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) 

The UKRS provides resettlement support to those individuals assessed by the Unite Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) against their resettlement submission categories as eligible for resettlement, and allocated to Westmorland and Furness for resettlement prior to arrival. Individuals may remain on the scheme for up to five years from date of arrival in UK. Support may continue after that date if necessary. 

Community Sponsorship Scheme

Community groups support individuals allocated to them and are funded directly by the Home Office. We may assume responsibility for resettlement if the Community Sponsorship arrangements fail. 

Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS)

The VPRS provides resettlement support to those individuals assessed by UNHCR as most at risk from the conflict in Syria and requiring resettlement. Individuals may remain on the Scheme for up to 5 years from the date of arrival in UK. Support may continue after that date if necessary. The scheme closed to new arrivals in 2021.

Privacy notice details

What information we collect

The personal data requirements include:

  • name
  • address 
  • contact details including telephone numbers, email address
  • date of birth
  • visa and passport information
  • family members information, including any children 
  • information relating to any safeguarding concerns

The special category data requirements include information about your:

  • nationality or ethnicity
  • health and disabilities
  • religion 

The criminal and law enforcement data requirements include:

  • allegations
  • charges
  • offences

How we collect your data 

We’ll collect most data from you. We may also collect data from:

  • the Home Office
  • the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • other central or local government agencies 
  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) providers
  • Border Force and Immigration Authorities database
  • Criminal Law Enforcement Agencies including international database 
  • any Early Help Support 
  • your representatives, family members and friends

Why we collect your data

We collect your data so we can:

  • facilitate resettlement activities within Westmorland and Furness
  • undertake assessments to establish what support we can put in place for you and your family
  • keep a record of the support that we will be providing to you
  • undertake regular reviews to establish whether the programme is working for you
  • undertake regular reviews to establish whether we need to change anything to help you
  • develop post-arrival support plans involving organisations such as health and support services
  • assess the quality of our services and evaluate and improve our policies and procedures

We may also use information in other ways compatible with this list. 

We may contact the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check you and members of your household or sponsorship group for hosting with the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. 

Who we collect data from 

We may collect data from central government departments, including:

  • HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
  • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
  • the Home Office
  • the Department for Levelling Up
  • Housing and Communities (DLUCH)

We may also collect data from:

  • carers or representatives
  • claimants
  • complainants
  • enquirers or their representatives 
  • healthcare users 
  • landlords
  • offenders and suspected offenders
  • professional advisers and consultants
  • recipients of benefits
  • representatives of other organisations 
  • staff, persons contracted to provide a service 
  • councillors 
  • students and pupils 
  • other departments within the council

We may receive personal, special category personal or criminal and law enforcement data about you from the third parties mentioned above and other public bodies and organisations. In this case, we will tell you the source of the information unless we are unable to do so by law.

Who we share your personal data with

We may share your personal, special category personal or criminal and law enforcement data with:

  • courts, prisons and tribunals
  • current, past and prospective employers
  • data processors
  • debt collection and tracing agencies 
  • educators and examining bodies 
  • employees and agents of the data controller 
  • family, associates or representatives of the person whose personal data we are processing. For example, next of kin, Power of Attorney and guardians 
  • financial organisations 
  • fire authorities 
  • healthcare, social and welfare organisations and professionals 
  • housing associations and landlords 
  • international law enforcement agencies and bodies 
  • law enforcement and prosecuting authorities legal representatives 
  • local and central government departments 
  • local government Ombudsman and Information Commissioner 
  • partner agencies, approved organisations and individuals working with the police 
  • persons making an enquiry or complaint 
  • police complaints authority 
  • police forces 
  • professional advisers and consultants 
  • professional bodies 
  • providers of goods and services 
  • regulatory bodies 
  • religious organisations 
  • service providers 
  • the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
  • voluntary and charitable organisations 
  • other departments within the council to allow us to provide efficient and effective services

We process personal data by selecting at least one legal basis from:

  • UKGDPR Article 6(1) (c) Legal Obligation
  • UKGDPR Article 6(1) (e) Public Task/Public Interest/Official Authority

Where we’re relying on UKGDPR Article 6(1)(c), all relevant legislation is listed below.

We process special category personal data under the condition of UKGDPR Article 9(2) (b) Employment/social security and social protection.

We process criminal and law enforcement data under the condition of UKGDPR Schedule 8(4) Safeguarding Children and Individuals at Risk.

Relevant legislation 

The relevant legislation includes: