Councils in London are offering asylum seekers discounts on leisure activities including free gym sessions and workout classes.
This includes Richmond council, which allows "sanctuary seekers" in the borough to apply for free leisure card subscriptions, according to its website.
The "Richmond Card" gives them free access to gym sessions, group exercise classes and general swimming lessons in indoor pools across five leisure centres.
The Liberal Democrat-run council says it will accept a letter from the Home Office or an Asylum Application Registration Card as proof of eligibility for those who apply for the leisure card.
People on benefits and carers in the borough only receive a 60 per cent discount off gym and swimming sessions.
A working adult in Richmond can meanwhile be charged up to £52.50 a month to access the fitness suite, classes and swimming at all five leisure centres.
On the council website, it also states the Richmond Card can be used to get discounts on other activities including pilates sessions, French and Spanish lessons and hypnosis sessions to relieve anxiety and stress.
The card also gives access to discounts on paddle boarding and kayaking and can be used in some restaurants.
Teddington Pools and Fitness Centre is among those which can be accessed by asylum seekers who make use of a Richmond Card
Kingston council meanwhile offers asylum seekers a discount of up to 50 per cent on leisure activities through an "Active Kingston Card", as stated on its website.
The card can be used across six leisure centres in the borough.
Discounted activities include badminton, squash, tennis and gym sessions.
The discounts can be accessed by others including registered carers, pensioners and people on benefits.
GETTY
|Pro-migration protesters pictured in Essex
Labour-run Wandsworth Council similarly offers asylum seekers money off activities including pottery classes and pantomime visits.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described it as a "slap in the face".
"It’s an insult to every struggling family in the country. Labour has the wrong priorities," he wrote to X.
Birmingham City Council - which declared itself effectively bankrupt in 2023 - meanwhile offers asylum seekers discounts on activities including trampolining and martial arts sessions.
The Home Office revealed last week asylum seekers could lose their housing and support if they refuse to move out of hotels "without a valid reason".
PA
|Police at the scene of a protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping earlier this month
The new "Failure to Travel" policy is aimed at tackling "non-compliance by asylum seekers".
It will mean those who are moved out of hotels to suitable alternative accommodation must take it.
"This Government is making those necessary decisions to protect the taxpayer and uphold the integrity of our borders, Dame Angela Eagle, minister for border security and asylum, said.
“These reforms to the Failure to Travel policy are another example of this Government’s action to transform the asylum accommodation system and crack down on those who abuse our system, so it operates fairly and saves the taxpayer money.”
The announcement followed a number of recent protests outside asylum hotels.
This includes outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, which has so far led to 23 arrests.