Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Volunteering Maeve Sherlock Chief Executive The Refugee Council

Refugees and Asylum Seekers Refugee definition: –persecution or fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion –outside their country of origin or usual habitation –unable or unwilling to gain protection from that country

Refugees and Asylum Seekers Asylum Seeker definition: –claiming to be a refugee –waiting for their claim to be decided There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker

Top 10 Nationalities applying in the UK, July - September 2004 Iran 935 China 620 Somalia 570 Zimbabwe 535 Iraq 475 Pakistan 460 Eritrea 415 India 400 Afghanistan 380 Sudan 340 Other Nationalities 3,470

The Asylum Process Asylum claim determined by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) - part of the Home Office Support while waiting for claim to be determined provided by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) - a separate part of the Home Office

Asylum Seekers No right to work - removed in 2002 Allowed to Volunteer - guidance on this was issued on Government is “keen to see asylum seekers and refugees take an active interest in the welfare of their own communities and the local community by undertaking voluntary activity while they are in the UK”

Home Office Guidance on Voluntary Activity Must be genuinely voluntary, amounting to neither employment or job substitution Expenses are refundable, but as actual costs and not as a flat rate Volunteering is not the same as Unpaid Employment, which asylum seekers are not allowed to do

What can Asylum Seekers and Refugees bring? Skills –Many refugees have excellent qualifications, experience and skills Life experience Knowledge of different cultures –Refugees and asylum seekers come from all over the world

What can Asylum Seekers and Refugees bring? Language skills Diversity Enthusiasm –Many refugees and asylum seekers want to do something to say thank you to the UK for providing them with refuge –They may want to learn about UK culture, and particularly employment culture

What do you need to consider? Recruitment methods Additional support Payment of expenses Lack of certainty over future plans (asylum seekers) Possible client/staff prejudice

Why bother? The importance of our environment to community cohesion Organisations gain from looking at their own diversity