London councils are offering a swathe of discounts for asylum seekers to use their sporting facilities, including free swimming and gym sessions.
Richmond council, in southwest London, allows “sanctuary seekers” to apply for a free “Richmond Card” with a fitness subscription that gives holders access to general indoor swimming sessions, group exercise classes and gym sessions.
The council accepts asylum applications and letters from the Home Office as proof of eligibility. The card gives access to five fitness centres in the borough.
Working residents in Richmond must pay £52.50 a month for access to fitness suites, classes and swimming at the same venues. People on benefits, including disability allowance, have to pay £30 a month.
The council’s website says that the Richmond Card — which, without the free fitness subscription, is available to all residents — also includes discounts for local pilates classes, restaurants and French and Spanish lessons. Other discounts include 25 per cent off at a children’s clothing shop in Twickenham and half-price nutrition consultations at a health centre.
The apparent giveaway was first reported by the Guido Fawkes political blog.
A spokesman for Richmond council said: “The fairer and free access schemes provide discounts or free access to some activities at our sports and fitness centres and is available to a number of eligible residents in Richmond, including pensioners, carers and those living with disabilities. Richmond council is committed to creating supportive and inclusive environments for sanctuary seekers, offering a range of services to enable their integration into local communities.”
Counter-protesters show support for asylum seekers outside the Bell Hotel
THOMAS KRYCH/GETTY IMAGES
The neighbouring Kingston council is also offering heavily discounted services to migrants. As part of its “active Kingston” scheme, care workers, people on benefits, pensioners and asylum seekers can access badminton, squash, tennis and racket facilities and group fitness classes all for half price.
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These local offers come against a backdrop of tightening national policy. Asylum seekers face being made homeless if they refuse Home Office orders to move them across the country under government plans to close migrant hotels.
Hundreds of migrants are refusing to be transferred every week, according to Home Office sources, frustrating the department’s attempts to reduce the number of hotels being used for asylum seekers. Some hotels have had to remain in use for as few as three migrants due to their refusal to move out.
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Under plans announced this week, asylum seekers will be threatened with losing their taxpayer-funded accommodation and weekly £50 allowance if they block transfer requests. The average cost for each migrant in a hotel is £118 a night and there is no maximum.
Those without a valid reason who refuse to move on the second time of receiving a Home Office transfer notification will risk losing their housing and support. The policy will only apply to single adult male asylum seekers.
Dame Angela Eagle, the border security and asylum minister, said the move was a “firm but fair approach” aimed at ending the abuse of asylum support and the policy will “establish clear consequences for those who game the system”.