Decision

Utilising the LA Asylum Dispersal Grant Funding provided by the Home Office, to award a grant for 2026-27 to the following organisation:

- Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees (CWR) a sum of £17,000

The funding will be allocated from the LA Asylum Dispersal Grant Funding which states 'A payment will be made to facilitate Local Authorities to assist with costs of supporting Asylum Seekers. The payment is to provide a contribution to Eligible Expenditure incurred during FY2026-27 by a Recipient in relation to pressure on local services associated with supporting Asylum Seekers.'

Reasons for the decision

As a background to this decision, Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) unanimously supported a resolution on the 25th of March 2019, to recognise the work done by CWR and for Cheltenham to adopt the title of ‘Town of Sanctuary.’

In doing so, CBC wished to take all practical steps to welcome and include refugees and asylum seekers, and to support them wherever it can. It also pledged to deepen its work with CWR and relevant partners, to build new links between them, CBC's partners and other local organisations to support and provide inclusive and accessible activities.

A further motion was agreed on 19th June 2023, to enhance Cheltenham's strong record of welcoming, supporting and helping both refugees and asylum seekers. This included working with CWR to support new initiatives to help and support refugees and asylum seekers in our community

The purpose of this grant will be in line with CBC’s motion to recognise and provide a strong message of CBC’s strategic support. In particular, this grant will enable CWR to provide practical support for households living in the government’s Dispersal Accommodation in Cheltenham.

The proposed activities are underpinned by this organisation and their extensive experience of supporting people seeking sanctuary and this funding will help CWR meet core needs with the ability to be flexible. This organisation recognises that the specific requirements of newly arrived individuals are often difficult to predict and they may need extensive support. This funding will therefore provide structured provision of prescribed support along with back-filling gaps in other services and having capacity to respond to emerging and urgent challenges on the ground.

The funding will enable this organisation to undertake a range of practical activities, which will be set out in our grant agreement. This funding must be spent during this financial year, and any underspend will need to be returned to CBC.

Alternative options considered

None considered. This is a unique opportunity to provide one-off grant funding to CWR in response to CBC’s Motion B, 19th June 2023 and will conclude at the end of March 2027.

The spending plan for this funding has been co-produced with CWR and meets the aims of Cheltenham being a Town of Sanctuary, Motion B and CBC’s Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

The funding will also be in line with the spending criteria of the LA Asylum Dispersal Grant Funding 2026-27.