Colchester City of Sanctuary

National government determines immigration policy and whether an asylum seeker is accepted as a refugee.

This is the responsibility of the Home Office and the UK Visas and Immigration Department who decide who can legally reside in the UK.

The Home Office is responsible for managing the dispersal, accommodation, and support needs of asylum seekers while a decision on their asylum claim is made.

The Home Office operates several regional contracts to facilitate this. In Colchester, the contract is held by ClearSprings Ready Homes.

Colchester has been used by the Home Office as a dispersal city for asylum seekers since December 2020 and has been the host to a contingency hotel.

We as the Local Authority are not responsible for accommodating asylum seekers.

Our role is in liaison with these private contractors, and statutory and voluntary agencies to try and ensure that they can respond to local circumstances and ensure the safety and wellbeing of people seeking asylum in Colchester.

How you can help

If you are interested in providing housing to asylum seekers whose claims have been refused, or to someone who has recently been granted refugee status, you can get in touch with

• Room for Refugees
• NACCOM - The No Accommodation Network
• Refugee, Asylum seeker, and Migrant Action, Colchester