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Key themes

Goteborg 2005 Welcome to Glasgow! Richard Brunner ATLAS Partnership www.atlas-scotland.co.uk Margaret McDonald Glasgow City Council. Key themes. Reception and integration of asylum seekers in the UK Reception and integration of asylum seekers in Glasgow The role of Equal and ATLAS in Glasgow

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Key themes

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  1. Goteborg 2005Welcome to Glasgow!Richard BrunnerATLAS Partnershipwww.atlas-scotland.co.ukMargaret McDonaldGlasgow City Council

  2. Key themes • Reception and integration of asylum seekers in the UK • Reception and integration of asylum seekers in Glasgow • The role of Equal and ATLAS in Glasgow • Learning from UK policy, Glasgow practice and ATLAS

  3. UK current policy • Dispersal of asylum seekers since 2000 • Contracts with housing providers (e.g. Glasgow City Council) • Asylum seekers: volunteering, training and education OK (limited) BUT no right to work since 2002 • Asylum seekers receive government allowance BUT 30% below normal benefit level

  4. U.K policy direction UK Government committed to 1951 Refugee Convention, but reception becoming harsher: • e.g. ‘Indefinite leave to remain’ replaced by 5 years ‘temporary leave to remain’ from August 2005 • e.g. Concern for NGOs: emphasis on speed of asylum decision over quality of asylum decision

  5. ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES Glasgow’s New Citizens?

  6. Government Home Office Policy - Integration starts on receiving refugee status -v- Glasgow City Council Policy - Integration starts on Arrival to the City

  7. Glasgow City Council Prior to 2000 200* asylum seekers Since 2000 12000 asylum seekers Nationalities - Afghanistan - Pakistan* - Albanian/Kosovo - Sierra Leone - Algeria - Somalia - China * - Sri Lankan - Democratic Republic - Turkey of Congo - Yugoslavia - Iran - Zimbabwe - Iraq - Lithuania

  8. NASS DISPERSAL • Early Morning Arrivals • Reception Centre (Blindcraft) • Refreshments • Document Verification • Transport • Book-In (Accommodation) • Orientation • SMILE

  9. Contractual Arrangements between Glasgow City Council and National Asylum Support Service (Home Office) April 2000 - March 2005: 500 single bedsits 2000 1, 2 & 3 bedroom houses March 2005 - July 2006: 2000 1, 2 & 3 bedroom houses Property 2000 Individual Flats • Scattered throughout city • Good order of repair • Security - Concierge CCTV Systems • Furniture including Cooker/Refrigerator/Washing Machine

  10. Support • Full Range of Services • Welcome and induction • Orientation • Education • Health • Police • Regular Contact with Project Officers • Interpretation and Translation • Signposting to Networks

  11. Orientation • Local Map/City Map • Shops • Post Office • Schools • G.P.’s • Drop-In Centres • Welcome Pack • Concierge • Cooker/Fridge/Washing Machine • Heating • Fire Safety

  12. POLICE • Partnership working • Senior Police Officer appointed to liaise with • all relevant agencies • Racial Harassment • Third party reporting of racist incidents - • Scottish Refugee Council and Asylum Support • Project both participate • Community Policing • Development of close contact between Asylum • Seeker communities and Community Police • Officers

  13. Primary Health Care Trust • Health issues are common to Asylum Seeking populations throughout the World. In Glasgow most of these are addressed by: • Local General Practitioners • Health record questionnaire • Rules of the doctor surgery • Rules of the dentist surgery • Guidance on How to take your medication

  14. Asylum SeekersObstacles to Integration • Home Office Policy • - Not allowed to work - Asylum Support Regulations - Reporting Restrictions - Breach rules • Language • Low self esteem • Immigration Decision Making Process • Abolition of Indefinite Leave to Remain

  15. EDUCATION • Bilingual Bases • Bilingual Bases established in 28 schools - • 21 primary, 7 secondary (State schools) • 65 additional EAL (English add. Language) staff • appointed • majority of Bilingual Bases have now been • established for about 5 1/2 years • Reactions and Experiences so far • overwhelmingly positive • pupils tend to be well motivated and value education • very highly • many are now high achievers in schools • parents very positive and supportive of schools

  16. It has been good for the City • Population • Culture and Diversity • Ethnic Mix • Economy  Arrivals in Glasgow since April 2000 12,000  Current NASS supported 5,681  Refugees staying in Glasgow 2,000 +

  17. ATLAS in Scotland • ESF Equal Theme I: innovation in the integration and training of asylum seekers • 2002-2004 • 29 projects; 19 partners – colleges, regeneration bodies, community organisations, global NGOs working locally • ATLAS in Equal Round 2: 2005-2007 • One of many organisations in Glasgow supporting reception and integration

  18. Securing integration: key ATLAS elements • Place asylum seekers and established communities ‘face to face with difference’ • Provide ‘platform for confidence’ for asylum seekers • At social and economic levels

  19. 1. Maryhill Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) • CAB: welfare advice to public in UK • Maryhill CAB: dispersed asylum seekers needed advice • 40 asylum seekers trained as volunteer CAB advisers: to serve whole community – not just asylum seekers • Put established population face to face with asylum seekers • Self-confidence and language competence gained by CAB volunteers

  20. 2. Bridges Programmes • ‘Workshadowing’ programme • 12-week placements for asylum seekers • 40+ employers, total 100+ placements • Economic cohesion: asylum seekers engaging with fellow professionals • Professionals meet asylum seekers - often for first time • ‘Platform for confidence’ and ‘face to face with difference’

  21. Integration outcomes: tentative • New communities adapt • Host communities adapt • New cross-community networks develop • ‘Invisible’ communities become visible in workplaces, advice centres, streets • Long-term expectation: less ignorance, less prejudice, higher chance of integration and work

  22. Questions, discussion and recommendations • UK reception policy • UK dispersal policy • Glasgow reception practice • Glasgow integration practice

  23. Welcome to Glasgow! • Richard Brunner, ATLAS Partnership • Richard.brunner@ced.glasgow.gov.uk • +44 (0)141 287 8230 • Margaret McDonald, Glasgow Asylum Seekers Support Project • +44 (0)141 222 7306 • m.mcdonald@sw.glasgow.gov.uk

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