Nottingham City Council will receive a £1.458 million in government funding to support asylum seekers as part of the nationwide Asylum Dispersal Scheme, which aims to provide sustainable accommodation and community support to vulnerable individuals.
This decision follows the Council’s extended participation in the scheme, which has been ongoing since 2002, and comes at a crucial moment as the city struggles with increased demands on its services and the heightened cost of supporting those in need.
Nottingham has been a designated asylum dispersal area since 2002, although it wasn’t until 2021-2022 that the Council received retrospective funding from the central government.
Initially, participation in the asylum dispersal scheme was voluntary, but it became mandatory for all local authorities in England, Scotland, and Wales in 2022 to facilitate the transition from hotels to more cost-effective and suitable dispersed housing arrangements.
Previously, companies such as G4S, and currently SERCO, were contracted by the Home Office to provide housing and support for asylum seekers during the assessment of their claims. However, with rising pressures on local services and limited resources, the retrospective approval of government grants has become essential for maintaining these services effectively.
The grants allocated by the Home Office between 2023 and 2028 are intended to address the challenges faced by asylum seekers and alleviate the strain on Nottingham’s existing services. The funding has been broken down into four main grants:
- Grant 4: £171,500
- Grant 5: £12,000
- Grant 6: £1,099,500
- Grant 7: £175,000
These grants will support current and existing services for asylum seekers and aim to alleviate pressures on departments such as health, education, social care, and community services. The funding will also be used to continue initiatives like the ‘Into the Mainstream’ healthcare access service, which has been jointly funded by the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum (NNRF) and Public Health.
The new funding will enable Nottingham City Council’s Migration Team to deliver targeted services while ensuring compliance with Home Office funding requirements. A central component of this effort includes employing 1.5 Asylum Coordinators, ensuring there is a dedicated focus on partnership development, improving the efficiency of existing services, and mitigating risks that can result from inadequate support.
Furthermore, the Council has introduced a small grants programme, which began in 2023 and is set for expansion this winter. This initiative aims to help voluntary organisations in Nottingham deliver services that promote integration and inclusion, improve mental and physical well-being, and offer crisis support. The funds will also address issues around isolation, provide safe spaces, and empower asylum seekers through educational opportunities and social activities.
The Migration Team’s action plan will continue to support the city’s services by improving coordination through a Strategic Migration Partnership/board, anticipated to be established within the financial year. This will enhance the quality of service provision and reduce the Council’s current need to reactively respond to crises caused by shifting government policy.
The Nottingham Migration Team coordinates a Multi-Agency Forum, which brings together statutory and voluntary services to support asylum and refugee resettlement. This collaboration has allowed stakeholders to assess the gaps in provision and prioritise areas for further support, including safeguarding, homelessness, and tackling anti-asylum sentiment. The Migration Team has also worked closely with Public Health and other city departments to develop an evidence-based approach through the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), which will guide their interventions.
With asylum seekers often facing significant challenges such as homelessness, exploitation, and hate crime, the funding will also support key services aimed at prevention and intervention. This includes funding a Modern-Day Slavery Caseworker to assist with safeguarding. In partnership with Nottinghamshire Police and other community organisations, the Migration Team will also work to challenge myths and stereotypes, promote community cohesion, and monitor trends related to anti-social behaviour and hate crime.
