Decision details

To award a small grant of £1,000 during 2023–2024 financial year to Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees 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 Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees (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 to support them wherever it can. It also pledged to deepen its work with Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees (CWR), to build new links between them, the council'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 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 CWR to undertake a range of practical activities:
- Build up a stock of useful items which could be placed in storage ready to meet need
- Purchase bike locks, rechargeable front and rear lights and repair items such as new inner tubes and tyres. CWR does not supply bikes to people living in the town centre but will continue to supply safety and security items and also items to help maintain or repair bikes
- Purchase items to support weekly football sessions such as football boots, shin pads, various sportswear and first aid kits. CWR would also like to sponsor one of their volunteers who has recently received a decision to remain and now wishes to lead on football training sessions. CWR would like to sponsor the cost of undertaking a first aid and FA Coaching Level 1 qualification.
- Purchase shop vouchers (usually low cost/discount stores) for people to obtain essential clothing (particularly underwear and shoes) that cannot be supplied second-hand
- Fund expenses and time for a local barber to visit CWR drop-in sessions to offer haircuts e.g. £30 per week for 3 hours

The estimated spend for this project is £1,000. 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.

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 CWR and meets the aims of Cheltenham being a Town of Sanctuary, Motion B and CBC’s Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.