Integration Strategy for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Yorkshire and Humber 2009 – 2011

1. Integration Strategy for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Yorkshire and Humber 2009 – 2011 Dave Brown Yorkshire and Humber Regional Migration Partnership

2. Vision Refugees and asylum seekers find sanctuary in Yorkshire and Humber, become full members of society and contribute to all aspects of life in the region

3. Background • History of integrating refugees • Dispersal • Regional Refugee Integration Strategy 2003-2006 • Integration successes

4. Refugee Integration Programme • Funded by Yorkshire Forward for 3 years • Refugee Integration Manager, based at YHRMP • Provides strategic co-ordination of refugee integration in the region

5. Consultation & Research Consultation • Refugees and Asylum Seekers • 303 questionnaire responses and 3 focus groups (28 participants) • Organisations • 49 responses to two stages of consultation • Culture and Integration • 25 questionnaire responses • Other Consultation • Groups, meetings, organisations, individuals Research • Review of Literature • ‘Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Yorkshire & Humber, 1999 - 2008’

6. Finding Sanctuary • ‘What are the best things for you about your life in the UK?’ • “Protection” • “Freedom and no fear of being killed” • “That I was welcomed well” • “Here in the UK for the first time in my life I feel safe. Where I came from I didn’t have that, it means a lot to me and my future is here in the UK” • “Having a roof over my head, to sleep and wake up in one piece and having people supporting and helping me all the way”

7. Enriching Yorkshire and Humber Social, economic & cultural contribution • “I would like to pay tax and participate in the development of Yorkshire” • “Advise the public and the service providers that we are human beings, that some of us indeed were once important or responsible people where we came from and we need to be helped to regain our self-esteem” • “Where I have a place and where there is a place for me…a bundle of belongings is not the only thing a refugee brings, there are also transferable skills”

8. Refugees and Asylum Seekers Refugees and asylum seekers have specific needs and suffer from multiple disadvantage, exclusion and inequalities • Refugee – A person given leave to remain in the UK as a result of a process which began with a claim and/or assessment under the UN Convention. • Asylum Seeker – A person who has applied for protection under the UN Convention and is awaiting a decision on this outcome (including appeals). • Refused Asylum Seeker – A person who was previously an asylum seeker and whose claim for asylum has been refused with all appeal rights exhausted. 28,000 – 39,000 Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Y&H (0.5% - 0.75% of the total population of Y&H)

9. Strategy Aim and Objectives Aim Integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the Yorkshire and Humber region and its local communities Objectives

10. Integration (1) The strategy uses the European Council on Refugees and Exiles definition of integration: “A long-term two-way process of change, that relates both to the conditions for and the actual participation of refugees in all aspects of life of the country of durable asylum as well as to refugees’ own sense of belonging and membership of European societies. The objective of integration programmes and policies should be the establishment of a mutual and responsible relationship between individual refugees, civil society and host states which promotes equality, self-determination and sustainable self-sufficiency for refugees and acceptance and positive action in favour of refugees by European governments and societies” (Report of the Third European Conference on the Integration of Refugees, Brussels, 1999, ECRE)

11. Integration (2) What Does Integration Mean To You? “Mixing with others” “Inclusion, fitting in and adapting” “It means being part of the community or society I am living in, in all respect doing things like a normal person and not being treated differently because of my status” “It means when I say ‘we’, I mean those who live in the UK” “To be active, work, pay tax, learn English and many other things” “Fitting in to society or the community I live in” “Integration means to me to feel a part of society” “To belong in this country” “Knowing the society I have come to live with. Its culture and day to day living, from comedy to business” “Mixing, living together harmoniously”

12. ‘Are You Integrated?’ Do you think that you are ‘integrated’? • Refugees and Asylum Seekers similar responses • Refused Asylum Seekers less integrated

13. Regional Priorities for Action Strategy Subject Areas Housing Health Work and Skills Safety Community and Society Children and Young People

14. Action Plan • Action Plan to accompany strategy • 100 regional actions carried out by 40 organisations • Regular reports on progress

15. Integration is Local • Integration happens at the local level • Regional strategy provides a framework for development of local strategies and service delivery • Some local strategies developed or being developed • Yorkshire & Humber Integration Network (YIN) meetings for those responsible for local integration strategies in the Yorkshire and Humber region

16. Future Challenges ? • Refugees receiving no integration support • Case Resolution, Discretionary Leave • Specific groups of refugees and asylum seekers • gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, children and young people etc • Destitution of refused asylum seekers • Damaging to the individual and to society • Public perception of asylum • Mixed

17. Further Information • Website Strategy and supporting documents available on the YHRMP website: www.migrationyorkshire.org.uk • Contact Details Dave Brown 0113 3952437 david.2.brown@migrationyorkshire.org.uk