12 January 2024. In October last year, our Director of Community Engagement Anita David attended the Institute of Government & Public Policy’s biannual Conference on Safeguarding Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
The Conference, delivered in partnership with In Professional Development and University of East London, explored partnership, collaboration and fostering integration and social inclusion amongst refugees and asylum seekers in the UK — key themes to guide our work in the years ahead.
As an organisation founded on the principle of community service, WBI strives for community cohesion and inclusivity by addressing the needs of marginalised communities, including individuals seeking asylum in the UK, and enhancing the local service network. It is important to understand the challenges faced by those seeking asylum in order to best support their needs.
The Safeguarding Refugees and Asylum-Seekers Conference addressed the following key themes:
- Supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK
- ‘Delivering services in partnership and fostering collaboration
- Helping refugees and asylum seekers tackle barriers to employment in the UK
- Safeguarding
[Screenshot from igpp.org.uk]
We learnt from the numerous organisations who spoke at the conference on safeguarding refugees and asylum seekers, including the North West Regional Strategic Migration Partnership (RSMP), UK Welcomes Refugees, Afrocats, Asylum, Integration and Resettlement in the Scottish Refugee Council, Oasis Cardiff and CARAS.
We were particularly moved by all the discussions to explore ways to build bridges across differences and broaden civic society engagement. This entails creating an accessible and inclusive environment via translation for early intervention and vital services such as education, health care, cultural support and mental health support.
The conference highlighted the critical role played by local groups in raising refugee voices. Organisations contribute significantly to integration by empowering asylum-applicants to tackle language barriers, social stigma and overcome employment challenges.
Helping Refugees and Asylum Seekers Tackle Employment Barriers
A key session at the conference detailed the main challenges faced by refugees and asylum job-seekers in the UK, which include entering a new job market, lack of networking, the language barrier, a prolonged asylum process and lack of engagement with the local community.
Since February 2022, WBI has been pioneering our bespoke Employment Support for Migrants program in Portsmouth, with City of Portsmouth College and Workers’ Educational Association (WEA).
[WEA tutor Bahar Mouland hosts a ‘Positive Mindset’ workshop for our 6th Employment Support for Migrants cohort.]
Valuable international skills and experience, workplace diversity, as well as a sense of global collaboration and citizenship, are benefits brought to our economy by migrant labour. We recognise these benefits in our programming: the creation of community cohesion, workplace diversity, promoting social integration and a sense of inclusion.
The panel discussion highlighted the work of Breadwinners, a charity and social enterprise in London giving work experience to asylum seekers and refugees. Breadwinners sells organic bread and supports young refugees to integrate in the UK by accessing work, training and mentoring.
Success stories from our Employment Support for Migrants program testify to the positive impact generated via dedicated mentoring in changing lives.
[WBI Video featuring former participants from the Employment Support for Migrants program and WEA team.]
Better Representation, Support and Empowerment
This was such a thought-provoking conference. We learnt from the experiences of other organisations in the country, which are also working with refugees and asylum seekers.
For 2024, we will work towards some of the priorities identified by the conference panellists, such as increasing work experience opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers, as well as training, mentoring and language support available. This will help to develop their self-confidence in meeting the challenges of entering a new job market .
We look forward to building upon the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 for decent work and a sustainable economic growth in 2024 by continuing to support better migrant integration in our local community.
