‘REACHING OUT: LIBRARIES – ENABLERS OF ACTIVE COMMUNITIES’ ‘Working together to support refugee communities’ 11 November 2016 Janene Cox Commissioner – Culture and Communities Staffordshire County Council

UK Approach to Migration/Refugee re-settlement There are approximately 95 Asylum Dispersal areas across the country G4S hold the government contract to manage this process Refugee status obtained Re-settlement Apply for asylum Including dependants, the number of asylum applications increased by 30% to 41,563 in the year ending March 2016 (ONS: Immigration Statistics to June 2016)

Syrian Vulnerable Person Re-settlement Pledge – 20,000 refugees to be resettled over this Parliament The refugees would be chosen from those living within the refugee camps of Syria/borders They would be the most vulnerable cases Scheme is Home Office led and funded – completely separate to the management of migration to date. All top tier authorities encouraged to participate

The Staffordshire Experience We are not a dispersal area – very little experience or expertise in re-settlement of refugees Initial discussions with all Staffordshire Chief Executives and one approach agreed Staffordshire County Council would lead and be the single point of contact with the Home Office and the re-settlement team. Agreed a joined up approach across the whole of Staffordshire’s Public Sector Staffordshire pledged to receive 50 refugees during 2015/16

Numbers and Locations 50 refugees pledged by SCC through consultation with districts/boroughs To be located in major towns where possible to ensure access to required services Agreed with Districts Mapping exercise of facilities completed 3 initial areas identified First families arrived in March 2016 Planning for all families to be resettled by end of 2016

Integrated Approach SCC tendered for a ‘Staffordshire Refugee Integration & Independence Service’. Why tender? Not a dispersal area and very little experience or expertise in resettlement of refugees Wanted to ensure the best possible experience for Syrian families coming to Staffordshire Need for a single point of contact for SCC and for the families Provision of 12 months of caseworker support for Syrian VPs. Contract awarded to Refugee Action who bring valuable expertise and knowledge of resettlement and share our ethos of helping vulnerable families to work towards independence SCC are now working closely with Refugee Action to ensure that required levels support are maintained

Arrival Planning Housing provided through a combination of private landlords and local housing authorities School places confirmed through SCC School Admissions Team Working closely with CCGs to ensure that any specific medical needs can be met and allocation of GP places are arranged pre-arrival District/Borough Councils, CCGs, Police, DWP, Fire Service, School Admissions and other partners have all been engaged during the planning phase Ongoing engagement with partners is crucial to ensure a smooth transition for the families

Where are we now? 49 individuals re-settled by end of November To date – 18 children (14 of school ages) School places secured in advance Children/young people escorted to school within 2 weeks of arrival Access to ESOL for the family School uniform costs met through the project Resources/support available described to the family and school

Why Libraries? Safe space – ‘Free from judgement’ Access to information, technology; ‘their home’ Opportunity to learn and develop Support to become part of a network

Our Learning A two tier approach The need for professional support Small steps to re-settlement Communities want to help People want to integrate and be independent Link into the networks of support that exist It takes time and is hard work