The schemes are to learn skills which "enhances their ability to contribute socially" (Image: Getty)
Local councils have spent more than a million in taxpayer money on English classes for asylum seekers and refugees. Recently uncovered government contracts reveal that town halls have spent more than ￡1.1 million on such schemes since 2020. They are part of 200 costing the UK taxpayer ￡6.6bn.
Coventry City Council offered ￡116,000 to a supplier required to deliver “specialist training” programs and English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) support.
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Running for just 11 months between September 2020 and and 2021, the scheme hoped to “empower newly arrived citizens and migrants” and “create a safe environment for learners” while teaching them English.
Herefordshire Council is currently running the same ESOL program to give refugees the opportunity to get a “high quality English for speakers of other languages service”, totalling ￡434,226 between September 2022 and July 2025.
Some ￡72,480 worth of ESOL services in Torby were also provided in September 2024, running until August 2026 - the local council says it's vital for their integration.
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￡1,169,466 spent on English language classes for asylum seekers and refugees (Image: Daily Express)
"Gaining language skills enhances their ability to contribute socially and economically and reduce the social isolation that could be felt by having to start afresh,” they said in a statement.
The largest sum spent was by Nottingham City Council who paid ￡546,760 to a supplier who is offering ESOL for resettled refugees in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire until 2027, having launched the scheme in October 2024.
A Torbay Council spokesperson said: "We want to ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to thrive and be part of our growing economy.
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"Providing this offer for those who move into the Bay to learn English as a second or other language is important when helping to support with their integration.
"Gaining language skills enhances their ability to contribute socially and economically and reduce the social isolation that could be felt by having to start afresh.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The government is required by law to provide support to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute, but we are determined to ensure value for money in all future contracts, and have introduced new controls to minimise non-essential spending which were not in place when the majority of these contracts were signed under the previous government.“Overall, we are determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly and fairly, and it remains our commitment to cut the costs of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels over time."
The Daily Express has outlined the most “bizarre” contracts:
Friendship services in Bristol, ￡211,200.
Friendship services in the London Borough of Newham, ￡60,000.
Friendship services in Hull, ￡37,560.
Sports activities for the Wethersfield Asylum Accommodation, ￡20,620.
Integration activities in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, ￡105,000.
Activities coordinator in Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, ￡27,070.
Easter Holiday Activities in Redditch Borough & Bromsgrove District Councils, ￡42,000.
Sandwich deliveries in the Croydon Intake Unit, ￡34,000.
Sandwich deliveries in the Kent Intake Unit, ￡13,650.
‘Woke’ research study on improving asylum support and needs - ￡229,920.
‘Woke’ research study into the lived experiences of refugee and asylum seeking, ￡225,090.
‘Woke’ research study into the decision-making of asylum seekers, ￡199,337.45.
‘Woke’ research study into international approaches to promoting the integration, ￡10,4751.51.
SIM Cards for asylum seekers in accommodation without WiFi - ￡560,000.
SIM Cards for data usage only for asylum seekers, ￡528,000.
Bus passes for refugees in Bristol, ￡264,000.
Bus passes for refugees in Bristol, ￡90,000.
Bus passes for refugees in Bristol, ￡72,300.
English language classes for resettled refugees in Nottingham, ￡546,760.
English language classes for resettled refugees in Herefordshire, ￡434,226.
English language classes for refugees in Coventry, ￡116,000.
English language classes for refugees in Torbay, ￡72,480.
Awareness training in Sunderland for council staff who engage with asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, ￡26,364.