Decision details

To award a small grant of £1000 to Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) as part of Cheltenham Borough Council’s Commitment in Council Motion B, 19th June 2023.

As a background to this decision, Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) unanimously supported a resolution on the 25th March 2019, to recognise the work done by Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) 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 to support them wherever it can. CBC also pledged to build new links with the council's partners and other local organisations to support and provide inclusive and accessible activities. It further committed to supporting activities that promote the education and training of refugees, enabling them to better integrate into the town and play an active role in the success of our local economy and creating sustainable communities.
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. It also pledged action for working in close partnership with GARAS and a motion for promoting their work with Council colleagues and within their communities.
The purpose of this small grant will be in line with CBC’s motion to recognise and provide a strong message of CBC’s strategic support. This will also enable GARAS to continue their work in supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Cheltenham.
The grant will contribute towards an additional resource within GARAS to support their effort with helping refugees and asylum seekers as well as providing general resilience in the organisation to cope with the increase in demand on their specialist service. In addition, this will help GARAS support refugees and asylum seekers by providing bus fares to attend important appointments or information, advocacy and advice on health, housing, benefits, immigration, law, education, employment, counselling provision for those suffering the effects of trauma and ensures that refugees and asylum seekers are getting appropriate support.
The estimated spend for this project is £1000. This funding must be spent by the end of March 2025. Any underspend will need to be returned in full to CBC.
This small grant will also align with the key priorities of CBC’s Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023-28 which highlights the importance of Cheltenham continuing to be a welcoming town of sanctuary for asylum seekers and refugees, prevent homelessness and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

None considered. This is a unique opportunity to provide a small one-off grant funding in response to CBC’s Motion B, 19th June 2023 and will conclude at the end of March 2025. The spending plan for this funding has been co-produced with GARAS and meets the aims of Cheltenham being a Town of Sanctuary, Motion B and CBC’s Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.