Asylum Welcome has expressed serious concerns about proposals to accommodate up to 1,200 asylum seekers on a former military site near Bicester, warning that large-scale institutional accommodation risks isolating people from the communities where they will ultimately rebuild their lives.
For more than 30 years, Asylum Welcome has supported refugees and people seeking asylum across Oxfordshire. Over the past four years, we have also worked alongside people living in Home Office asylum accommodation across the county. Based on this experience, we are calling on the Government to prioritise community-based accommodation rather than large, isolated sites.
Why we’re concerned
“People seeking safety are future neighbours,” says our Joint CEO, Hari Reed.
“The accommodation we provide should help people become part of our communities, not keep them apart from them.”
We understand the government’s ambition to reduce reliance on hotels. However, we believe large-scale accommodation on isolated military sites risks being even more damaging. It moves people further away from the support they need, makes successful integration harder, and increases the risk of community tensions.
Many people seeking asylum arrive in the UK after experiencing conflict, persecution, trafficking or exploitation. During the asylum process, access to legal advice, healthcare, education and specialist support is essential.
Our experience tells us that people also need opportunities to learn English, volunteer, build friendships and become part of local communities while their asylum claim is being considered.
We are particularly concerned that vulnerable groups, including LGBTQ+ people and survivors of torture or modern slavery, may face additional risks in large communal settings and have reduced access to the specialist services they need.
A call for compassion
As discussions have unfolded online and in the community, we’ve been saddened by some of the language and attitudes expressed. While people will hold different views about asylum policy, there should be no place for racism or language that dehumanises others.
It’s important to remember that asylum seekers have no say in where they are accommodated. They don’t choose the hotel, the military site or the town where they’re asked to live. Yet they often find themselves at the centre of public debate and must live with the consequences of decisions made on their behalf.
As these conversations continue, we hope people will remember that everyone seeking asylum is first and foremost a human being, deserving of dignity, compassion and the opportunity to rebuild their life in safety.
