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Rethinking Refugee Wolverhampton Conference
- 1. Wednesday 5th April 2017 Molineux Stadium,Wolverhampton #rethinkingrefugee Conference Outcome Report
- 2. Introduction F ollowing a successful event of over 80 people from a wide range of organisations at our #rethinkingrefugee Conference in Wolverhampton on Wednesday 5th April 2017, a way ahead was agreed on this urgent matter. We have already started to take the next steps, but need your help and support! The following is a summary of the outcomes of the discussions and the issues discussed on the day: Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary, refugees welcome Wolverhampton is one of the cities in the UK to lead on the recent refugee crisis. Wolverhampton City Council committed to resettle 100 Syrian refugees over 5 years as part of the Governments plan to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020. The city is a natural destination for asylum seekers and refugees given its diversity and the local G4S centre. Despite its diversity, Wolverhampton, like many other major cities in the UK, has an Integration challenge. The most recent report by Dame Casey on Integration highlighted this challenge by stating that our major cities are like communities living among communities. Given the importance of this matter, the Conference called for more emphasis to be put on integration as a driver of prosperity and community cohesion. ACH Wolverhampton was established in November 2015, and since then has supported almost 100 tenants to move on. It currently has 6 staff members and 48 tenants. We are working in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council, the Refugee and Migrant Centre, Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary, G4S, and the local Job Centre Plus in Molineux House and Chapel Court. The majority of our tenants are fresh from G4S and are adult single males and single females. Our accommodation is centrally located and we use culturally sensitive and bi-lingual staff. Refugees are a resource We face the most serious refugee crisis in modern times, with more people displaced since the 2nd World War. It was agreed that too often the refugee issue was portrayed as a burden to society and at best, a humanitarian and charitable issue. A humanitarian response designed for the short-term too often ends up administering long- term misery and wasted opportunity for both refugees and society. Rather than transitioning from emergency relief to long-term reintegration, refugee populations too often sadly get trapped within the system. This benefits nobody. Yet, we have skill shortages, the challenge of major infrastructure projects such as HS2 and the need to become more competitive in the face of Brexit. The existing paradigm fails to adequately recognise that refugees have talents, skills, and aspirations that will boost our economy and enrich our communities. A rethink is urgently needed. ACH new perspective of refugee resettlement and integration Our aim is to explore some new perspectives concerning the integration and resettlement of refugees from our grassroots and community based approach and experience. We must give greater priority to employment and economic development opportunities if we are to offer genuine integration and a油better life to refugees and forced migrants coming to the UK. Conference participants agreed that early labour market integration for refugees is the best method for refugee integration, and this can be achieved through culturally sensitive support, training and sector focused employment skills as shown in figure 1. We will work more closely with businesses and public sector employers and representatives to overcome this issue. ACH presented its unique model for integration. This holistic model has its heart focused on supporting refugees from arrival to integration through effective employment and enterprise skills. In the future ACH wishes to play a more strategic role with a strong emphasis on economic and labour market integration through closer working with employers. This process is illustrated below in figure 2. Key outcomes of the conference: Setting priorities for action #rethinkingrefugee Employment / Work Experience Skills Assessment Language Training & Orientation Vocational Skills Figure 1. Sector Focused Training Model Accommodation Support Work Skills Enterprising Skills Move On Five Stage Innovation Model Resettlement Stage Integration Stage Figure 2. #rethinkingrefugee Conference Outcome Report Wednesday 5th April 2017 | Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton Welcoming refugees is absolutely the right thing to do Cllr. Paul Sweet, Wolverhampton City Council Speakers Lea Fanara (Support Worker, ACH Wolverhampton) Fuad Mahamed (CEO, Ashley Community Housing) Cllr. Paul Sweet (Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Wolverhampton City Council) Anthony Walker (Service Manager, Homeless Strategy and External Services, Wolverhampton City Council) Kate Penman (Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary / Hope into Action) Richard Thickpenny (Business Development Manager, Ashley Community Housing) David Jepson (Director, Himilo Training) Eileen Means (Vice Chair, Ashley Community Housing)
- 3. Ashley Community Housing, Third Floor, Derwent House, 42 - 46 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 4XB. 01902 429163 info@ashleyhousing.com www.ashleyhousing.com Next steps We are determined to make sure that this wasnt just a great conference. Actions speak louder than words. The following actions came out of the event: All participants to work together on rethinking refugees and promoting integration. Wolverhampton City Council representatives committed to working with refugee organisations across the City. Wolverhampton City Council and stakeholders to work together to improve perceptions of refugees to employers and the wider community. We will be making the Rethinking Refugee Conference an annual event. We will also organise mini Rethinking Refugee events in localities and communities of interest as needed. All can join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #rethinkingrefugee. Ashley Community Housing has organised #rethinkingrefugee Conferences in Bristol, Birmingham, Bath and Wolverhampton, with over 300 people attending these events. If you are interested in working in partnership with us please get in touch. What do you say? Please let us know your views and how you might engage with our work to ensure far better integration of refugees within our city and region. Keep the conversation going and talk to us: info@ashleyhousing.com @ashleychousing @achwolves #rethinkingrefugee What others said about the conference Great discussion on #rethinkingrefugee led by Ashley Community Housing. Cllr. Paul Sweet, Wolverhampton City Council. There are no easy solutions so we need to ensure we work together to provide the best solutions possible. This is an uphill battle, but with organisations like ACH this is a battle we can win. Cllr. Roger Lawrence, Leader of Wolverhampton City Council and previous Chair of ALA working group on refugees. Amazing afternoon at the Ashley Community Housing #rethinkingrefugee conference. Looking forward to working together. Wolverhampton Partnerships Team, West Midlands Police. The conference today was very interesting. Lynda Lawrence, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council #rethinkingrefugee Conference Outcome Report At the #rethinkingrefugee event, a great cause and event. Anthony Walker, Wolverhampton City Council.