Hello 

A report forwarded by Refugee Council - A more human take on migration and 'integration'; something to counter-balance all the talk of the economic benefits or otherwise of migration currently swamping our media. Some very sensible comments made about the role of English classes, as well. 

James

 

 

________________________________

From: Hannah Ward 
Sent: 16 October 2007 11:23
Subject: Refugee Council launches new report on integration

 

EMBARGOED UNTIL:  0001hrs, Wednesday 17 October 2007

Reference: 60/07                

                        


New research reveals asylum seekers' and refugees' experiences of integration


 

New research by the Refugee Council and the University of Birmingham contains powerful evidence of refugees' own experiences and understanding of integration.

 

Carried out in the London Borough of Haringey and Dudley in the West Midlands, the research is an important contribution to the debate about integration and settlement into Britain.  

 

While the report shows that there are some successes, it is widely accepted that integration in many areas is poor, and various government initiatives are in place to try to address this.  However, the research shows that Home Office policies on asylum, including restrictions on the right to work, benefits below the poverty line and lack of help with settling into the UK until people have been granted leave to stay hinders integration and creates more divided communities.

 

Kavita Brahmbhatt, Research Co-ordinator for the project said:

 

"We used community researchers to talk to people with refugee status and people whose asylum claims were still being processed. Most of those who took part see integration as fitting in to British society, and recognise that this is a long process that begins as soon as they arrived in the UK. 

 

"One of the most significant things we noticed while doing the research was how much the asylum system itself hindered integration.  The first step to improving integration has to be lifting restrictions to basic entitlements and civil liberties for people seeking asylum."

 

The research focused particularly on the role of social networks, and found these were extremely important to integration in many ways, including addressing the mental and emotional health needs of asylum seekers and refugees. In particular, it was found that groups based on shared nationality and language could offer practical and emotional support, and a stepping stone to participation in the wider community.  

 

Kavita Brahmbhatt said:

 

"Contrary to current thinking, which seems to suggest that support from those who share nationality or language goes against bringing communities together, we found that in fact these groups offer the kind of support that enables refugees to exercise their rights and play a more active part in their communities.  This allows them to become less marginalised and results in healthier relationships being formed in other networks based on shared interests such as learning English and not on shared nationality.

 

"But access to any type of network is often extremely difficult. If you have no money, no means of travel, restricted access to employment and training - these are real barriers to integration."  

 

The report is being launched at a conference on Wednesday, 17 October at the Human Rights Action Centre in London.

 

Ends

 

Notes to editor

 

1.     The report, 'Refugees' experiences of integration', will be launched at a conference on Wednesday 17 October 2007 at the Human Rights Action Centre, Amnesty International UK, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA.  The conference takes place from 10am-3pm.  The research was carried out by the Refugee Council and the University of Birmingham, and was funded by the Big Lottery.

 

2.  The report is available under embargo ahead of the conference.  Please contact Hannah Ward on 020 7346 1213 or [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>  to obtain a copy.

 

3.  Media welcome at the report launch.  Please contact Hannah Ward if you would like to attend.

 

4.  Some of individuals interviewed for the research are available for interview, and can be contacted through Hannah Ward.  Further details about them are provided below:

 

Shukri

 

Shukri is 20 and lives by herself in Haringey Green Lanes. She came to London when she was 13 with her younger brother who was 10 leaving her family behind in Mogadishu, Somalia. She has refugee status. She was housed by the council until she was 18 and lived with her brother, but after her 18th Birthday she was made homeless as she was no longer a minor. She is currently working part time and going to Sixth form college doing three A levels and wants to go to University and become an Immigration Officer. She has set up her own charity with friends from her Mosque to raise money for emergency relief situations and wants to register it as a charity.

 

Vincent

 

Vincent is about 40 and lives in Tottenham with his wife and two children. He came here without his wife about three years ago from Zambia where he was living after the genocide in Rwanda. He had to flee Rwanda, where he worked as a teacher, because he was a moderate Hutu. He came to the UK because he was too afraid to go home fearing the backlash against Hutus. He has been waiting for his status to be determined for three years and is very limited in what he can do because he earns no money and knows no one in his area. He is very knowledgeable about UK politics. He is a devout Catholic.

 

Mehdi

 

Mehdi is about 40 and lives in Wood Green. He came to the UK about three years ago and is still an asylum seeker awaiting a decision on his claim. He left Iran because he was a political activist and artist. He was detained but his friends managed to sneak him out of jail and smuggle him out of the country. Mehdi got Polio when he was a child and he is disabled so he is being supported by Social Services, but as an asylum seeker he can't work so he passes his time volunteering in an English Language school by helping students use the computers.  He also attends the Iranian Socialist Workers Party in Islington. 

 

 

 

 

Hannah Ward

Press Officer

 

Refugee Council

240-250 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BB

 

T 020 7346 1213

F 020 7346 6730

 

[log in to unmask]

www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

 

www.dontbelievethetype.org.uk

Asylum is a human right - join our campaign

 

 

This communication is from British Refugee Council, (commonly called the Refugee Council),
which is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, [No 2727514],
with its registered office at 240-250 Ferndale Road, London SW9 8BB, United Kingdom.
British Refugee Council is also a registered charity, [No 1014576].

For our full email disclaimer go to http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/email which is deemed to be incorporated.

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