Decision details

• The aim of this service is to: Assist asylum seekers with their claims for asylum to ensure they are treated fairly;
• Ensure that asylum seekers can navigate relevant health and wellbeing services;
• Improve English language skills, where needed, so that asylum seekers are better able to integrate into the communities within which they have been placed; and
• Support asylum seekers to feel a part of their communities through the provision of community development activities.

This is a partnership arrangement between Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) and Gloucester City Council (GCC), with GCC having led on the procurement of this new service. Funding for this service comes directly from grant funding received from the Home Office, which is ringfenced solely for asylum seekers. CBC has committed to fund up to £75,000/year (including VAT) for the provision of this service (indexed linked by 2%/year from April 2027).

As a background to this decision, CBC unanimously supported a resolution on the 25th March 2019, for Cheltenham to adopt the title of Town of Sanctuary. 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.

The purpose of this contract will be in line with the above resolution and motion. CBC will work in close partnership with GCC to ensure that we enable A&CAA to commence this new contract so that it can provide all necessary practical support for asylum seekers with a view to avoiding duplication of other services whilst at the same time helping to prevent people falling through the net.

Cheltenham Borough Counci’ls funding contribution to the initial contract term is set out below, including VAT: