The Wethersfield migrant camp in Essex, Britain's largest facility for asylum seekers, is offering a wide array of activities including art therapy, cricket coaching, and dance lessons. These programs, funded by taxpayer grants and charities, have drawn criticism from some local residents and politicians who question the expenditure while many citizens face financial struggles. The camp, housed in a former RAF base, accommodates adult men, with plans to increase its capacity.
Funding for these activities comes from a Home Office grant of £50,000, channeled through Braintree district council. Specific allocations include over £14,000 for art and dance classes by Art Refuge, £17,490 for gardening, art, and English lessons by the St Vincent de Paul Society, and £7,650 for cricket coaching. Ben & Jerry's UK Fund supported photography and rambling, while the Salvation Army provides a base for the Care4Calais charity.
Local opposition to the camp's amenities is evident, with protesters holding signs such as 'Stop the boats' and 'Deport invaders.' Reform Party Councillor Nathan Robins expressed local frustration, stating that residents are concerned about their own finances while seeing money spent on individuals who arrived illegally. He advocates for detaining and deporting asylum seekers rather than funding recreational activities.
Charities involved in providing these services highlight the positive impact on residents. Art Refuge describes its 'Echoes of Home' project as a 'multi-artform collaboration' involving music, dance, and visual art, aiming to provide an atmosphere of 'absorption, escape and play' for men who may face daily racist abuse. They offer dance styles like capoeira and breakdance, alongside art sessions and organized rambles with local bookshops and pubs.
Gainsborough's House museum in Sudbury has hosted migrant groups for printmaking workshops, contrasting with the fees charged to local visitors. Similarly, Little Bardfield village cricket club has run weekly sessions for residents, recalling one migrant who scored a century for the team before being rehomed. Football is also provided, with Changing Lives Colchester organizing tournaments and establishing a Wethersfield FC team.
The extensive nature of the facilities and services at Wethersfield has been a subject of legal scrutiny. Two years prior, a High Court judge ruled that asylum seekers were unlawfully housed at the camp because it did not meet their needs following trauma. The judgment detailed significant staffing levels, including multiple GPs and nurses at the camp's medical center, along with welfare officers, security personnel, and kitchen staff, all funded by taxpayers. Migrants are referred to as 'customers' and are provided with induction programs, regular mental health check-ins, and access to various recreational facilities, including a gymnasium, sports pitches, and a recreation room with games and media equipment. Three meals are served daily, with juice dispensers available throughout the camp.
Despite the range of activities and facilities, some residents have reportedly complained of a "deth of purposeful activities," with some comparing the camp to a prison. Tensions have reportedly arisen within the camp, with claims of racial violence between residents. The ongoing provision of these services and the significant costs associated with housing asylum seekers at Wethersfield are set to continue as the government plans to expand the use of military bases for migrant accommodation.