1. Migration and Integration in the West Midlands Tallinn - 19-22 October 2009 Clare Daley – WMSMP: c.daley@wmleadersboard.gov.ukc.daley@wmleadersboard.gov.uk Website: www.wmlga.gov.uk/wmsmpwww.wmlga.gov.uk/wmsmp

2. Outline Partnership role, structure & impacts Regional Social Inclusion Strategy Asylum dispersal & refugee integration in the UK Regional refugee / migrant populations Cohesion, integration & migration Integration issues & responses

3. WMSMP Role Regional consortia set up in 2000 to oversee asylum dispersal & refugee integration in region Became West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership (formerly WMSPARS) in June 2007 – also took on new migrant remit Partnership consists of local authority, statutory, private, voluntary and community organisations from across West Midlands

4. WMSMP Structure

5. Regional Impacts Influencing local strategies and plans Sharing and developing practice / procedures Facilitating co-ordination and collaboration Presenting local issues and responses nationally Providing information and policy interpretation

6. Regional Social Inclusion Strategy Recognising the impact of poverty, inequality and discrimination Addressing the challenges faced in refugee integration Encouraging inclusion and mainstreaming of responses to refugee and asylum needs Supporting refugees to play a full, active and equal part in the region Developed through a regional process of partner involvement, strategy group and consultation events and drafts Available at http://www.wmlga.gov.uk/Policy_Areas/Migration/Integration/Integration.aspx http://www.wmlga.gov.uk/Policy_Areas/Migration/Integration/Integration.aspx

7. Theme Areas Information, Advice and Language Accommodation Health Children Adult Education and Training Employment Volunteering Media Community Cohesion Community Development Culture, Leisure and Sport

8. Strategy Delivery & Review Co-ordinated by WMSMP Cross-sector Regional Implementation Groups (RIGs) take forward actions by theme – Cohesion, Media, Employment & Training, Children, Health, Housing, Women Link with Regional Partnerships & Bodies, Public Services, Local Authorities & Strategic Partnerships, Voluntary Sector Partnership review of achievements, outstanding and new actions, issues and policy context

9. UK Asylum System Dispersal areas: urban multi-cultural areas Asylum dispersal on a no-choice basis, often to vacant property and areas of deprivation Home Office contract asylum accommodation and provide basic support (2/3 income support) Unaccompanied asylum seeking children supported by Local Authorities where arrive People seeking sanctuary are not allowed to work and often live in poverty, fear and ill-health New Asylum Model 2006; Case Resolution 2011

10. Refugee Integration On receipt of status, refugees have 28 days to find their own accommodation and support Tend to settle in dispersal areas that have members of own cultural community Refugees are able to access housing, services, employment and support like any UK Citizen Refugees are often highly skilled and qualified and have contributed significantly to Region New National Refugee Employment and Integration Services started – October 2008

11. Regional Refugee Populations WM refugee population estimated at over 76,000, over 1% of regional population About 4350 asylum seekers currently supported by UKBA (plus UASCs & refused) About half of regional refugee and asylum populations in Bham Over 85 different languages and dialects spoken. Range of faiths and backgrounds. The largest refugee groups are Somali, other African and Iraqi Areas of dispersal and settlement mostly inner- city, disadvantaged and multicultural

12. New Migration in West Midlands Global, national & local changing migration patterns & movements Dramatic increase in migrant workers in region following EU accession in 2004 About 47,000 overseas nationals registered NINOs in region in 07/08; 13,000 in Bham Largest populations in urban areas (Bham, Coventry) but largest growth in rural areas Polish, Indian and Slovak biggest groups Regional study on economic impact of migrant workers Migration Matters conference & report

13. Integration Highly contested term focused on refugees until recent CLG Migrant Integration Review Recognition that two-way, long-term, dynamic and multi-dimensional but not in practice Bias to functional rather than social integration Tension between targeted & universal services National ‘Integration Matters’ Strategy 2009 Regional Social Inclusion Strategy - review Local Integration Strategies and Forums (Castles et al, 2002; Ager & Strang, 2004; ECRE, 2005; Korac, 2001)

14. Policy term emerging after 2001 social unrest Recent shift from multiculturalism to cohesion blamed for tensions and segregation Linked with ‘race’, migration and assimilation Social capital model – bonding, bridging, links Based on shared futures, goals and equality Commission for Integration and Cohesion report and CLG response Much policy guidance and paradox (Forrest & Kearns 1999; Cantle 2005; COIC, 2007; Temple & Moran 2005) Community Cohesion

15. Cohesion and Migration Refugees and migrants more likely to be victims of and to under report crime and exploitation New arrivals face difficulty accessing services Areas of asylum dispersal and migrant settlement often of existing deprivation ‘Scape goating’ of new arrivals v. contribution to cohesion e.g. volunteering Frequent movement / instability / work hrs make it difficult to form links within local communities Lack of accurate data about populations of new communities, particularly destitute

16. Welcome to Birmingham Website - A guide to information, support and services in Birmingham for people new to city Available at: www.welcometobirmingham.orgwww.welcometobirmingham.org 'Migration Matters: Mainstreaming Migration in the West Midlands' Conference Report - June 2009 Where Our Journeys Meet - A West Midlands Resource for Raising Awareness of Refugee, Asylum and Migrant Issues Maternity, Mortality and Migration: the impact of new communities - 2008 All available at: http://www.wmlga.gov.uk/Policy_Areas/Migration/Publications/Publications.aspxhttp://www.wmlga.gov.uk/Policy_Areas/Migration/Publications/Publications.aspx Key Publications