We are deeply saddened at the news that a man died by suicide on the Bibby Stockholm Barge. We are however not surprised. This was as predictable as it was tragic.
Despite mounting opposition, the government remains determined to house people seeking asylum in large scale ‘accommodation centres’ on former military bases, causing significant harm to those who have already survived arduous journeys to reach the UK.
This briefing highlights our concerns that part of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will remove the proper and necessary checks on the exercise of executive power in the running and management of the asylum accommodation system in England, and will result in serious adverse impacts and harm both for people seeking asylum and for local communities.
This report looks at the impact of housing people seeking asylum in barracks accommodation on their physical and mental health and makes recommendations for an asylum housing system that is 'fit for purpose'.
In response to this consultation, we outline what needs to be considered when deciding where to 'disperse' people seeking asylum to, and urge the Home Office to put together a set of minimum standards for dispersal areas to be used as an ongoing reference tool to ensure they those moved to new areas are able to access the services and accommodation they need.
In December 2021, BM Trust Ltd submitted in a full planning application for the change of use of the We submitted a response to the planning application for an initial assessment centre for the accommodation of asylum seekers at Jaguar House and Buildings in Badersfield, Norfolk, highlighting our concerns that this accommodation is inherently unsuitable for people seeking asylum, who are a particularly vulnerable population.
This article in the Forced Migration Review highlights evidence from medical assessments of the negative impact of the UK’s accommodation centres on the health of asylum seekers and calls for a trauma-informed approach to underpin the government’s future strategy in this area.
This response to a consultation planning proposals for the continued use of Napier Barracks for people seeking asylum whilst their claims are being considered looks at the conditions in Napier, the welfare of residents and impact the community and whether extended use of the site is legitimate or desirable from a planning perspective.
This briefing sets out the impact of institutional accommodation on the health and welfare of those seeking asylum.
The Helen Bamber Foundation has considerable experience of the impact
Thousands of people seeking asylum are currently accommodated in initial
