Goteborg 2005

Welcome to Glasgow!

Richard BrunnerATLAS Partnershipwww.atlas-scotland.co.uk

Margaret McDonaldGlasgow 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

• Learning from UK policy, Glasgow practice and ATLAS

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

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

ASYLUM SEEKERS ANDREFUGEES

Glasgow’s New Citizens?

Government Home Office Policy

- Integration starts on receiving refugee status

-v-

Glasgow City Council Policy

- Integration starts on Arrival to the City

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

NASS DISPERSAL

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

Contractual Arrangements betweenGlasgow City Council

andNational Asylum Support Service (Home Office)

Property2000 Individual Flats• Scattered throughout city• Good order of repair• Security - Concierge CCTV

Systems• Furniture including

Cooker/Refrigerator/Washing Machine

April 2000 - March 2005: 500 single bedsits2000 1, 2 & 3 bedroom

houses

March 2005 - July 2006: 2000 1, 2 & 3 bedroom houses

Support

• Full Range of Services

• Welcome and induction• Orientation• Education• Health• Police • Regular Contact with Project Officers• Interpretation and Translation• Signposting to Networks

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

POLICE

• Partnership workingSenior Police Officer appointed to liaise withall relevant agencies

• Racial HarassmentThird party reporting of racist incidents -Scottish Refugee Council and Asylum SupportProject both participate

• Community PolicingDevelopment of close contact between AsylumSeeker communities and Community PoliceOfficers

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

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

EDUCATIONBilingual 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

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 +

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

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

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

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’

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

Questions, discussion and recommendations

• UK reception policy

• UK dispersal policy

• Glasgow reception practice

• Glasgow integration practice

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