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Understanding Experiences of Asylum Seekers BPS Conference Harrogate 9-11 th April 2013

Understanding Experiences of Asylum Seekers BPS Conference Harrogate 9-11 th April 2013 . Helen Liebling, Shani Burke, Simon Goodman and Daniel Zasada. Outline of Presentation. Research Process Participant Demographics Findings Summary Policy recommendations. Research Process.

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Understanding Experiences of Asylum Seekers BPS Conference Harrogate 9-11 th April 2013

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  1. Understanding Experiences of Asylum SeekersBPS Conference Harrogate 9-11th April 2013 Helen Liebling, Shani Burke, Simon Goodman and Daniel Zasada

  2. Outline of Presentation Research Process Participant Demographics Findings Summary Policy recommendations

  3. Research Process • Ethics approval from Coventry University • Data collection during May and July 2012 • Nine participants recruited and interviewed at Refugee centre • Individually by a member of the research team • Refugee centre assisted with process • Transcribed verbatim by Research Assistant • All researchers met to complete thematic analysis and determine overall themes

  4. Participant Demographics

  5. 1. The Importance of Safety • Reason for leaving Country included violence, danger, persecution and traumatic experiences. • Included violence, conflict, political reasons, rape, arranged marriage, sexual violence and murder of parents (common). • Likelihood of being killed if returned; therefore return impossible/unacceptable. • In contrast UK perceived as safe-would rather kill self than return

  6. Importance of Safety

  7. 2. Negative Experiences of Home Office • Home Office focus of much criticism • Major negative impacts on lives • Rejecting applications, refugee centre constrained and removed access to accommodation • Causing destitution and homelessness • Support of friends prevents ‘sleeping rough’ • Slow speed of HO, lack of clarity of asylum process, ill treatment -serious causes of concern • Negative emotional impact on P’s who reported isolation, feeling trapped and controlled

  8. Negative Experiences of Home Office

  9. 3. Support • Refugee centre good at practical support but limited influence with asylum application and Home Office • Unstable accommodation-’Living on the streets’-isolated and vulnerable • Racist attacks and hostility • Limited support but health care valued • Appreciation for support of friends

  10. 3. Support

  11. 4. Emotional Effects • Negative emotional effects including common traumatic effects • e.g. anxiety • Three participants receiving treatment for depression and two • were suicidal • Fear of seeking support • Exacerbated by loneliness, isolation, not working, uncertainty • and ‘feeling trapped’

  12. 5. Significance of Family • Some met partners and had children in UK giving sense of responsibility and importance of family • Some family members had been killed or unsafe to contact family in Country of origin

  13. 6. Hopes for the future • Ordinary hopes are basic needs • Desire to work, some to assist others with similar • experiences • Desire for a safe and secure place to stay • Indefinite leave to remain

  14. 7. Positive experiences of living in the UK • Generally happy in the UK • Notwithstanding criticisms of HO • Liked cities they have lived • Fondness for British culture • Desire to contribute to the culture • Stark contrast to media representations of ‘unwillingness to integrate and scrounging’ • No evidence of clash of cultures

  15. Positive experiences of living in UK

  16. Summary 1. Despite prevailing views, refugees know little about the UK before arrive. 2. Generally happy, although face hostility. 3. Negative impact by HO treatment. 4. Above all desire official refugee status. • Difficult within this context for refugees to express problems, access justice and support.

  17. Policy recommendations • HO provide clearer and more detailed information to refugees about process and status of their application. • Services provide a holistic model of care that tackles stigma and meet needs for safety, emotional support and justice. • Asylum seekers should be allowed to work, which will increase self-esteem.

  18. Acknowledgements • All our participants • Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre • Daniel Zasada • Richard Benjamin Trust • www.richardbenjamintrust.co.uk • Coventry University

  19. Thanks for listening! Please contact us at: • Helen.Liebling@coventry.ac.uk • Shani.Burke@hotmail.co.uk • Simon.Goodman@coventry.ac.uk • danielz@covrefugee.org

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