￡20,620 spent on sporting activities for asylum seekers (Image: Getty)

       Nearly ￡200,000 was spent on “activities” for asylum seekers and refugees between August 2023 and July 2026. Various sporting and social programs were put in place by the government and local authorities.

       It comes as the Express.co.uk uncovers a string of Home Office and local council contracts spending billions on asylum seekers in the UK. As many as 200 government contracts are costing the taxpayer ￡6.6 billion.

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       Sporting activities

       The Home Office splashed ￡20,620 on sporting activities at Wethersfield Asylum Accommodation site between August 2024 and February 2025.

       The former RAF base in Essex housing 580 asylum seekers is “designed to be as self-sufficient as possible”, according to the government.

       However, during their stay, three days of on-site sports and well being covering four activity sessions per day are provided. This includes football, athletics, gym sessions, volleyball, tennis, educational coaching programs and more.

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       The money was spent on sports coaches and equipment such as dodgeballs and kits.

       ￡194,690 spent on activities for asylum seekers and refugees (Image: Daily Express)

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       Integration activities

       A ￡105,000 contract was awarded by the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames for “integration activities” between August 2023 until July 2026 for Afghan citizens specifically.

       A Kingston Council spokesman said: “Kingston is proud to be a diverse borough and has a long history of welcoming people from all over the world.”

       They added that the council “commission local organisations to help deliver this integration support”.

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       Activities Co-ordinator

       Some ￡27,070 was spent on a “Refugee and Asylum Seeker Activities Co-ordinator” last year paid by Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council.

       Easter Holiday Activities worth ￡42,000 were issued by Redditch Borough & Bromsgrove District Councils, with one of the suppliers being Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcome Refugees.

       Between March and May in 2024 recreational, cultural and sporting services were provided.

       Cllr Kieron Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, BCP Council said: “As well as exploring and sourcing free or low-cost activities, a key responsibility of this role is to help individuals access clothing donations, English Language lessons, support from Migrant Help and advice on volunteering opportunities, visa applications (once out of the asylum estate) and many other areas of potential need.”

       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.