1. ‘REACHING OUT: LIBRARIES – ENABLERS OF ACTIVE COMMUNITIES’ ‘Working together to support refugee communities’
11 November 2016
Janene Cox
Commissioner – Culture and Communities
Staffordshire County Council

2. UK Approach to Migration/Refugee re-settlement
There are approximately 95 Asylum Dispersal areas across the country
G4S hold the government contract to manage this process
Refugee status obtained
Re-settlement
Apply for asylum
Including dependants, the number of asylum applications increased by 30% to 41,563 in the year ending March 2016 (ONS: Immigration Statistics to June 2016)

3. Syrian Vulnerable Person Re-settlement
Pledge – 20,000 refugees to be resettled over this Parliament
The refugees would be chosen from those living within the refugee camps of Syria/borders
They would be the most vulnerable cases
Scheme is Home Office led and funded – completely separate to the management of migration to date.
All top tier authorities encouraged to participate

4. The Staffordshire Experience
We are not a dispersal area – very little experience or expertise in re-settlement of refugees
Initial discussions with all Staffordshire Chief Executives and one approach agreed
Staffordshire County Council would lead and be the single point of contact with the Home Office and the re-settlement team.
Agreed a joined up approach across the whole of Staffordshire’s Public Sector
Staffordshire pledged to receive 50 refugees during 2015/16

5. Numbers and Locations
50 refugees pledged by SCC through consultation with districts/boroughs
To be located in major towns where possible to ensure access to required services
Agreed with Districts
Mapping exercise of facilities completed
3 initial areas identified
First families arrived in March 2016
Planning for all families to be resettled by end of 2016

6. Integrated Approach
SCC tendered for a ‘Staffordshire Refugee Integration & Independence Service’.
Why tender?
Not a dispersal area and very little experience or expertise in resettlement of refugees
Wanted to ensure the best possible experience for Syrian families coming to Staffordshire
Need for a single point of contact for SCC and for the families
Provision of 12 months of caseworker support for Syrian VPs.
Contract awarded to Refugee Action who bring valuable expertise and knowledge of resettlement and share our ethos of helping vulnerable families to work towards independence
SCC are now working closely with Refugee Action to ensure that required levels support are maintained

7. Arrival Planning
Housing provided through a combination of private landlords and local housing authorities
School places confirmed through SCC School Admissions Team
Working closely with CCGs to ensure that any specific medical needs can be met and allocation of GP places are arranged pre-arrival
District/Borough Councils, CCGs, Police, DWP, Fire Service, School Admissions and other partners have all been engaged during the planning phase
Ongoing engagement with partners is crucial to ensure a smooth transition for the families

8. Where are we now? 49 individuals re-settled by end of November
To date – 18 children (14 of school ages)
School places secured in advance
Children/young people escorted to school within 2 weeks of arrival
Access to ESOL for the family
School uniform costs met through the project
Resources/support available described to the family and school

9. Why Libraries? Safe space – ‘Free from judgement’
Access to information, technology; ‘their home’
Opportunity to learn and develop
Support to become part of a network

10. Our Learning A two tier approach The need for professional support
Small steps to re-settlement
Communities want to help
People want to integrate and be independent
Link into the networks of support that exist
It takes time and is hard work