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
• +44 (0)141 287 8230
• Margaret McDonald, Glasgow Asylum Seekers Support Project
• +44 (0)141 222 7306
