Migrant Cities Cardiff Holly Andrew and Naomi Pollard Institute for Public Policy Research

1. Migrant CitiesCardiffHolly Andrew and Naomi Pollard Institute for Public Policy Research

2. Cosmopolitan Cardiff • Capital and largest city in Wales. Seat of the National Assembly for Wales. Population: twelfth largest city in the UK, approximately 321,000 (2007). • A port city with long history of international migration, stretching back to 19th C: South Asian, Somalian, Yemeni. Also Maltese, Cypriot, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Caribbean, West Africa and east European Jewish. • 1988 – 2002: Arrival of asylum seekers. Around 3,000 asylum seekers and 10,000 refugees resident in Wales (primarily from Somalia, Iraq, Turkey, Sudan, DRC). • 2004 +: Arrival of migrants from new EU member states, (although one of lowest concentrations among UK’s major cities). • 2007: 37% of migrants in Cardiff applying for NI number for the first time are from Asia and the Middle East; a third of migrants from new EU member states HA

3. Social Citizenship Rights • Migrants have different first ports of call, dependent on residency status, e.g. UKBA-commissioned landlords, Job Centre Plus, NGOs (Welsh Refugee Council) And straight away I even asked the housing provider guy where Coleg Glen Hafren was and he directed me. (Grace, Zimbabwe) [Citizens Advice Bureau] explained me all the forms I had to fill in. (Andrea, Portugal) • Migrants receiving different information about their rights, institutions, neighbourhoods • Scope to offer consistent information, creatively (e.g. online, Red Cross’s orientation scheme) HA

4. Public services and intercultural dialogue • Many positive about experiences (esp schools and further/higher education institutions) • However, conflicts and misunderstandings between service providers and migrants Because I wasn’t registered, like you know I went there and the girl she said ‘OK, just go and sit and wait for a GP’… And he looked at me and said, ‘No, you’ve got nothing to do here, I don’t have your name and you’re not registered. (Marie, France) • Scope for creative approaches to intercultural dialogue between service providers and migrants So when you want the police to make an announcement, neighbourhood policing team want to make an announcement about something that has happened, we would take them to the mosque.’(Abdi, Somalia) NP

5. Employment • Employment key to intercultural dialogue Sometimes in work, you’re working with Portuguese, you’re working with Indian people, with Welsh people.(Klara, Poland) • However, migrants can be significantly overqualified for the jobs they do and face barriers At the beginning I tried and I applied for more jobs but I didn’t get any feedback. It’s very closed you know, it’s very difficult.’ (Kebebe, Ethiopia) I know that people without university degree have better position and I ask why, they said ‘no you can’t. (Justyna, Poland) • Asylum seekers express frustration at not being able to work I mean I have contributed more to my country. And if I come to this country can’t I contribute again? Why deprive me?. . Why recruit? They’ve got so many people who are in limbo in this country.’(Grace, Zimbabwe) NP

6. Volunteering • All the asylum seekers and refugees were volunteering • Offers same opportunities for intercultural dialogue found in work place Integration is always good through voluntary work… gaining experience also – you hear the language and the accents. (Seleb, Eritrea) • Also provides an opportunity to build professional skills • The one with SIS [Somali Integration Society] was slightly a bit more the one that looks good on the CV, as a research assistant.’(Abdi, Somalia) • Stakeholders praised WAG for contribution to creating opportunities in the third sector • However more opportunities in the private sector needed NP

7. Language • Intercultural dialogue dependent upon language, learning English is key • Language immersion through day-to-day interaction and building friendships, with many keen to interact with resident population The best way to learn the language and the culture of the country we are living in is having British friends. (Andrea, Portugal) • Lack of English is a barrier to employment I feel good, that I have good experiences for some job and I know that I’m not getting these jobs because my English is not perfect. (Klara, Poland) • Concerns around ESOL provision: limited places; not running outside of academic term times (new migrants waiting over summer months); classes not suitable; not always convenient for those in full-time employment NP

8. Sense of belonging and identity • Sense of belonging for those who intend to stay long-term I want to be able to live here, work here, vote... I want to participate in the community (Andrea, Portugal) There is no reason to move from the UK, so Cardiff is my home. (Kebebe, Ethiopia) • Where successful: multi-layered identities I have a cocktail of cultures, I have Somali culture, the Welsh, the British, the European, and the African. (Abdi, Somalia) • Contributing factors: sense of welcome; day-to-day experiences of working/studying and communities they live in; inclusive community events (e.g. Cardiff festivals); interest in Welsh identity and perceptions of inclusivity and accessibility (esp in terms of learning the Welsh language) I start, yeah, yeah, only a few words. Actually maybe I should go for English class but I decide to go this year for Welsh class.’ (Klara, female, 32, Polish, student) When I moved to Cardiff I found another culture or a different culture and need to study it because really I am interested.(Ali, male, 28, Iraqi. Volunteer) HA

9. Barriers to sense of belonging and identity • In an age of ‘super mobility’ sense of belonging more difficult to cultivate • Negative experiences with people (closed minded or misinformed) and people working in public services They scared about their job and then they don’t like Polish people.’(Justyna, Poland) And the secretary [at the GP surgery] she was so rude to me, and you know I was crying really, and she goes: ‘Yeah, but do you have a visa anyway?’ I’m like: ‘I’m from France, people from France don’t need a visa.’ And I just left... I’m glad that I’m going back home. (Marie, France) • The media I don’t blame the people, it’s what they read in the paper and what they see on TV. (Grace, Zimbabwe) HA