Oxfordshire County Council has allocated the extra funds for the migrants on top of the £31,000 allocated for six months between November 2024 and April 2025.

A Freedom of Information request has revealed £71,280 has been allocated, of which £64,800 is for the bus companies and £6,480 is overheads allocated to the charity Asylum Welcome.

The extra £71,280 has been allocated for the period April 2025 and March 2026.

Andrew Gant previously praised the scheme(Image: Contributed)

Oxfordshire County Council, which proposed switching off street lights at night to save money, said the scheme is for those in Oxford city.

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman defended providing free passes to asylum seekers over taxpayers, saying the funds will ultimately “help individuals build connections”.

He said: “This scheme operating in Oxford promotes and enables integration and helps the individuals in question build connections with local people.

READ MORE: Migrants living in Oxford hotels speak out on living in UK

“It also assists them in the longer term to become economically active and contribute to the community in which they live.

“We are very grateful to the local bus companies and Asylum Welcome for working with us on this scheme.”

Legal documents uncovered under Freedom of Information laws say asylum seekers in the city “face significant challenges to get around the city due to the cost of public transport”.

It said transport for asylum seekers in Oxford was “the most urgent issue of concern” and resulted in some “limitations”.

This includes an inability to get to English classes and other missed educational opportunities, the legal documents said.

What’s more, asylum seekers suffered from a “negative impact on mental health, exacerbated by loneliness and isolation, especially for those with anxiety, depression and ADHD through lack of mobility or activity”.

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company(Image: Fortitude Communications)

And because transport was difficult for them, asylum seekers couldn’t take up volunteering opportunities.

Some asylum seekers are receiving bicycles from the charity Asylum Welcome, but this has been described as inappropriate for disabled asylum seekers and that biked are “regularly stolen” from outside the hotels in which they’re staying.

Migrants living at the Kassam hotel were offered bus passes at regular drop-in sessions at the hotel.

Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, said he is “pleased” to help support the scheme Stagecoach West boss Chris Hanson said the passes “foster a sense of belonging and opening doors to future job opportunities”.

Andrew Gant, cabinet member at Oxfordshire County Council, previously said the scheme is “one small thing we can do support asylum seekers who are awaiting the outcome of their asylum claim”.

Mark Goldring, director of Asylum Welcome, added: “It reduces isolation, improves well-being and the sense of inclusion that Oxfordshire is trying hard to promote.”