The city council has reaffirmed its support for refugees and people seeking asylum
Protesters in Bristol city centre(Image: Ellie Kendall/BristolLive)
Extra help and support is planned for the almost 1,000 asylum seekers staying in three hotels in Bristol. This includes more English classes, employment workshops, advice on getting a GP appointment, and giving out sim cards.
As some councils across the country try to stop the government placing asylum seekers in hotels, Bristol City Council is planning to ramp up its help for the hundreds of people living here fleeing war and persecution. Greens leading the council reaffirmed their support for refugees.
Last weekend protests saw clashes in the city centre between people campaigning against the hotels and anti-racist demonstrators. Now an upcoming new “sanctuary strategy” will explore how the council can help asylum seekers, working alongside other organisations in the city.
Green Councillor Christine Townsend, chair of the children and young people policy committee, said: “From the French Huguenots who came to Bristol in the 17th century fleeing religious persecution, to refugees from Belgium and Poland arriving in our city during the First and Second World Wars, our city has a long history of welcoming communities in their hour of need.
“This draft strategy is aimed at ensuring that this rich tradition of being a city that supports others is maintained in a structured and compassionate way. More recently we have worked with the national government to provide sanctuary to those fleeing conflict in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, putting in place government funded programmes to help people find a home, enter education and have the opportunity to live full lives and integrate with existing communities.”
Councillors on the children’s committee will discuss the draft strategy on Thursday, August 28. The council will then consult the public on its plans, to inform the final sanctuary strategy. Money to fund the strategy comes from government grants rather than council tax, and will help people understand cultural norms in the UK, be ready for employment and how to access housing.
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Cllr Townsend added: “For generations, some previous national policies, such as the ‘hostile environment’, have created division and made life harder for those seeking safety whilst creating division in existing communities. This politics of division is not what we stand for and we will not tolerate the pitting of one community against another for any purpose.
“Through this strategy we want to be honest and transparent about how we will support those we have a legal and moral duty towards and how, as a compassionate city, we will continue to extend our welcome for those in need.”
The number of refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol has shot up over the last decade, from between 200 and 300 in 2012 to 5,000 in 2023. This is due to several global conflicts and crises, such as in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
As of last November, there were 1,133 asylum seekers housed in Bristol, of which 853 were in three hotels. 81 per cent of hotel residents are families and a third of these are children. People seeking sanctuary are five times more likely to have mental health needs.
There are currently long waiting lists for English as a second language classes, with adult classes significantly over-subscribed. The strategy’s action plan includes providing additional classes, both online and face to face. Other parts of the plan include providing transport to attend health appointments that are over two miles away, and grants for school uniforms.
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