Refugee Action – Basis Project Refugee community organisations – roles, potential and challenges SE Funders Forum 10 Dec 09

 Refugee Action  Definitions  The asylum process  The role and challenges of RCOs in the South East start Today’s programme

Refugee Action Reception, advice, information Informing, influencing and campaigning Access to employment and main stream services Developing refugee communities

The Basis Project Partnership Refugee Action – Refugee Council offering: Capacity building for RCOs - Training, 1:1 support - Peer-to-peer Awareness raising (funders, second tier orgs, RCOs)

“ In Britain, half a million ___________ find their home. They are never persecuted and in many respects they are given favoured treatment here. But now... they are overrunning the country.” Q1: Who said this, about whom and when?

“In Britain, half a million Jews find their home. They are never persecuted and in many respects they are given favoured treatment here. But now... they are overrunning the country.” 1938, Sunday Express Q1. Who said this, when?

Refugee vs. Asylum Seeker

Refugees vs. asylum seekers Asylum seeker- A person who has left their country of origin, has applied for recognition as a refugee in another country, and is awaiting a decision on their asylum claim Refugee - A person who, following their claim for asylum in the UK, has met the criteria laid out in Article 1 of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Refused asylum seeker- A person who hasn’t been able to prove that they would face persecution back home, has had their application turned down, is told to leave the country after the authorities have said ‘no, you can’t stay here’ There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker!

Economic migrant - A person who has moved to another country to work, could be legal or illegal. Illegal immigrant - A person that arrives in a country and has no legal permission to be in that country. Has either not made themselves known to the authorities or has stayed longer than they were authorised to.

To qualify as a refugee a person must have a well-founded fear of persecution because of their: -Race -Religion -Political opinion or membership of a social group -Nationality

Percentage of world’s refugees living in UK? a)11% b)23% c)3%

The UK hosts 3% of the world’s refugees. At the end of 2008, the UN estimated that there were 292,100 refugees living in the UK, that is 0.5% of the UK’s population

a)Iran b)China c)Afghanistan d)Iraq e)Eritrea Where do refugees and asylum seekers come from?

Country producing largest no. of asylum seekers? 1. Afghanistan (790) 2.Iran (540) 3.Zimbabwe (525) 4.Eritrea (385) 5.China (300) 6.Pakistan (280) 7.Somalia (230) 8.Sri Lanka (225) 9.Iraq (175) Figures from Sep-Oct-Nov 2009 Home Office

1.Afghanistan 2.Zimbabwe 3.Eritrea 4.Iran 5.Iraq 6.Sri Lankan 2008 applications to the UK 19% of all applications in 2008 were granted refugee status (3,725 of 19,400)

Number of refugees in the SE? Hard to tell: -Refugee Action – 3,700 face-to-face per year, and 5036 telephone contacts ( yearly figures) *New refugees (RIES) : 255 (Oct 08-Sep 09) -Dover Detainees Visitor’s group: 80 released clients -Kent Refugee Help : 13 a year released on bail or after review -Kent unaccompanied asylum seekers: 300

Refugee status Humanitarian Protection Discretionary Leave to Remain (minors up to 18 th ) Indefinite Leave to Remain Immigration status (after decision)

Characteristics of asylum process high number of Home Office refusals before the appeal stage limited access to legal representation no choice accommodation dispersal below poverty levels of asylum support destitution of refused asylum seekers limited educational and training opportunities general isolation and social exclusion

Why people come to the UK? Little choice about where to flee Reliance on agents For those that can choose, reasons include: friends or family believing UK is safe and democratic previous links between their own country and the UK, including colonialism speaking English or wishing to learn it (Source: Robinson and Segrott 2002; Koser and Pinkerton 2002)

Weekly support for asylum seekers?

A single asylum seeker receives Asylum seekers: Single over 18 £35.13 Job seekers: Single over 25 £64.30* Income support: Single £64.30* *These are general weekly amounts, they vary according to specific cases or circumstances

How do asylum seekers spend their money? MYTH: 1. Gold teeth 2.Drugs 3. Weapons 4. Leather jackets REALITY: 1.Phone calls 2.Bus fares 3.Food 4.Soap (Source: Mobiles, money and mayhem: the facts and fibs about asylum.

Step in the shoes of the others What does it feel like to become a refugee? What are the barriers to integration? How are refugees and asylum seekers perceived in the UK? Can experiences be different because of cultural expectations and gender roles?

Things to consider…. Asylum seekers and refugees are not economic migrants, they are fleeing persecution Refugees can work and set-up businesses - depending on their immigration status In general asylum seekers cannot work or set- up businesses

Things to consider… Refugees face a complex set of restrictions on their ability to integrate Employment and business set-up is key to integration Asylum legislation is complicated and changes frequently impacting on the experiences of refugees and those working with them

Refugees’ contributions A recent national survey of asylum seekers found: 54% qualified to NVQ3 or above 80% employed, self-employed or studying before UK 30% self-employed before UK 97% under 50 years of age 51% spoke two or more languages other than English Waddington, S. Valuing skills and supporting integration (NIACE 2005) and Department for Work and Pensions (2006)

Meet immediate needs of refugees and asylum seekers – the shock absorber Providing cultural and emotional support A bridge to and between cultures Raising awareness and understanding about refugees in the community Contribution to community cohesion within own communities and externally The role of RCOs

Where RCOs are 54 Source: Refugee Community Organisations in England- Realising Potential- Report by Refugee Action and Refugee Council July The numbers for SE are organisations in RA’s current database of RCOs

RCOs’ income Source: Refugee Community Organisations in England- Realising Potential- Report by Refugee Action and Refugee Council. July 2007

RCO diversity Refugee Community Organisations in England- Realising Potential- Report by Refugee Action and Refugee Council. July 2007

RCO services Most frequent in SE: -Social/language Groups -Self-help groups -Asylum and immigration advice/signposting -Awareness raising Less frequent: -Gay and lesbian -Disabled support -Domestic violence

Challenges faced by RCOs Complexity of community needs – reflecting individual needs and situations Understanding of environment and isolation from debates Funding – recession beginning to hit home Relying on volunteers Language and cultural barriers Their role is not well understood by funders, policy makers and local authorities – eg resurgence of single group funding

Barriers to accessing funding RCOs: Communication and language Lack of knowledge of funding criteria Lack of independent referees No access communication facilities

Barriers to accessing funding Funders: Decision-making panel know little about refugees and asylum seekers The support RCOs have or not Staff knowledge (grants officers)

Kent Refugee Help -People in detention -Legal advice -Sureties or bail when possible -After release support -In successful cases, including 2 indefinite leave to remains

Oromo Community of Brighton -Gateway refugees from Ethiopia - Social events -Self-help group -Language classes for children and adults

Any questions? Beatriz Fernandez Basis Project South East Region Refugee Action