Fri, 29 Aug 2025

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 Home Office set to pull 'balloon-craft' job at migrant detention centre

Minister Seema Malhotra has called on the contractor to remove the jobs at the immigration removal centre.

* A job advert for a tutor teaching crafts and art skills to migrants at Heathrow immigration removal centre was ordered removed by Home Office minister Seema Malhotra.
* The role would have involved running workshops on activities such as balloon-craft, cake decorating, and floristry, with a salary of £31,585 per year.
* Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the job as "pouring taxpayers' money into perks when every effort should be on deportations".
* The Home Office was told to remove the positions, but asylum seekers' rights charity Detention Action argued that the government has a duty to provide roles like this to support the mental health and wellbeing of detainees.
* The contractor Mitie said the roles were intended to support the physical and mental wellbeing of detained individuals, as part of their contractual obligations.
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