UK to Provide Taxpayer-Funded Therapy to Illegal Migrants Housed at Former Army Base
- Mahamunimodi Team
- Jan 14
- 2 min read
Asylum seekers who are set to be relocated to a former British Army facility will receive state-funded mental health support, according to a report by The Telegraph. The arrangement includes access to professional therapists, with the cost covered by taxpayers, as part of a broader healthcare package overseen by the Home Office.
Approximately 300 male refugees are expected to be housed at Cameron Barracks in Inverness, where counselling services will be made available once they are settled at the site. The Government has earmarked the barracks, along with another former military camp in East Sussex, as part of its strategy to reduce dependence on hotels for accommodating asylum seekers. This move aligns with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to phase out the widespread use of hotels for migrant housing.
Local councillors were informed this week that the presence of trained therapists on-site would mean residents at the barracks would not need to rely on Inverness’s existing National Health Service facilities. Officials indicated that the aim was to prevent additional strain on local healthcare providers by delivering dedicated services within the accommodation itself.
However, the decision has sparked criticism from some quarters. Opponents have characterised the provision of on-site mental health support as a “slap in the face” to local residents, arguing that Inverness citizens already face long waits and limited access to similar services. Critics have further claimed that the arrangement amounts to migrants receiving “preferential treatment” compared to the local population.
The announcement has added to growing unease in Inverness, where tensions have remained elevated since plans to use the former barracks were first unveiled in October last year. Concerns persist among residents and community leaders that the arrival of hundreds of asylum seekers could place additional pressure on public services that are already under significant strain.
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