Asylum seekers in Witney wait 4 months for weekly allowance

Just over 200 asylum seekers have been living in the Witney Oxford Hotel since November 2022.

But according to retired teacher Patsy Hughes who has been giving English lessons the majority have not yet received their Aspen debit cards which enables them to access £9.10 per week. 

She said: "This is what they are entitled to because the hotel provides bed and board. But they have not yet received this and have no idea when they will do so."

Volunteers from St Bartholomew’s Church in Ducklington have emailed MP Robert Courts about the issue as have the asylum seekers themselves.

At a recent Witney Town Council meeting it was revealed that there are mainly families at the hotel including approximately 20 children of secondary school age, 20 of primary school age and six of Sixth Form age.

Ms Hughes said: "They have all been advised to inform Migrant Help but despite doing so, have merely been told to be patient."

She added: "Many of these asylum seekers are couples and families who have come here in small boats from Iran to escape execution or imprisonment for their Christian faith.

"Some have fled after being badly beaten and hospitalised for not wearing the hijab correctly. Others are from Afghanistan, Iraq and Albania. Those from Iran have told me there is no legal route out of the country.

"I, among others, have been trying to help them learn English and have extended a hand of friendship to these dispossessed and demoralised people, many of whom are university-educated and professionals in their various fields including teaching, nursing, engineering and pharmacy."

Ms Hughes, an author, is visiting the hotel two mornings a week.

She said: "I find the classes well attended by people of all ages, who are keen to learn, some of whom have their toddlers and babies with them.

"It really is not acceptable to leave these people without a penny to buy even paracetamol if they have a headache or a temperature. 

"As things stand they have to contact a GP to get this simple remedy - which any reasonable person would see as a waste of our precious NHS resources."

She added that although they can apply for help with things like opticians "they literally don't have a penny to spend on anything which restricts what they can do". 

"There is a gym in the hotel, but they are not allowed to use it for some reason and it would help their mental health considerably if they could. There is a high level of boredom and frustration and it is very hard for them."

She said: "Most of them want to work, but they are not allowed to do so until their asylum requests are processed – which means they could be in limbo for months if not years. 

"A temporary permit to work while they are waiting would solve so many problems for them and our country. 

"But at the very least they should be getting their Aspen cards to provide a little money for basics such as deodorants."

Mr Courts said he has been "continuously engaging with both the Home Office and West Oxfordshire District Council to ensure asylum seekers receive the appropriate support.

"In these meetings, I have been reassured by the current levels of support in place for residents in the hotel, however, I remain aware of delays residents are facing in receiving Aspen cards.

"I will continue to push the Home Office to streamline the process of applying for and receiving an Aspen card to ensure asylum seekers are able to access this extra support as soon as possible."  

He urged anyone facing issues receiving the cards to contact the Home Office’s advice, issue reporting and eligibility (AIRE) provider, Migrant Help.

The Home Office has been contacted.

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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