St Helens Council Ends Funding for Refugee Week Following Reform UK Election Victory

The new Reform UK-led administration at St Helens Borough Council has confirmed it will not provide funding or official support for Refugee Week events this year, marking a significant policy shift following last month's local elections.

Council leader George Woodward said the decision reflects the authority's priorities under Reform UK, which secured a commanding majority in the elections. He described the move as part of the council's commitment to focusing resources on local residents and core public services.

In previous years, the Labour-run council contributed financially to Refugee Week activities, which celebrate the contributions and experiences of refugees living in the community.

Woodward argued that council funds should be directed toward essential services rather than event sponsorship. He also questioned current interpretations of refugee status and suggested public concerns about local service delivery had contributed to Reform UK's electoral success.

The funding dispute centres on money provided by central government for refugee resettlement programmes. While the funds are ring-fenced for refugee-related purposes, Woodward said he would prefer to return the allocation to the government and intends to explore that possibility in the future.

The decision has drawn criticism from local organisations supporting refugees. The Laziz Project, a community organisation that runs language classes, a weekly café and cultural events, said it was asked by the council to return funding that had already been allocated.

Director Emma Bamber sought legal advice and was ultimately able to retain the grant. As a result, the organisation's planned Refugee Week street food festival will still take place, although some activities previously supported by council funding may no longer go ahead.

Bamber said local residents had launched fundraising efforts to help cover the shortfall and preserve elements of the programme, including cultural performances and arts activities.

She defended the role of refugee support initiatives, noting that refugees have been granted permission to live in the UK and should be welcomed into their communities. Bamber also encouraged residents to engage directly with refugees and asylum seekers to better understand their experiences.

A spokesperson for St Helens Borough Council said the £60,000 previously allocated to Refugee Week would instead be used for other refugee resettlement services.

The council stated that government guidance permits resettlement funding to be spent on areas such as housing, healthcare, education, language training, casework and broader integration support for refugees settling in the borough.