Case Study

Financial Inclusion of New Migrnats in Northern Ireland

We are currently working on this innovative project with Citizens Advice Belfast which is funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

ICAR is carrying out the research side to the project, interviewing 60 migrants in Northern Ireland about their access to financial services. In parallel to this, Citizens Advice is running a practical advice service specifically for migrants providing financial advice and training. ICAR is evaluating this practical initiative. 

The central aim of the research is to identify the main issues affecting financial inclusion amongst new migrant communities in NI and explore strategies for addressing these issues. From this principle aim emerge the following objectives:

  • Scope the extent of financial inclusion amongst new migrant communities in NI
  • Assess the causes and effects of financial exclusion and the barriers to greater inclusion
  • Explore the efficacy of formal financial products for this group and the use of alternative informal financial services amongst migrant communities
  • Evaluate the relevance of existing financial inclusion policies, including initiatives specific to Northern Ireland and the UK Treasury's Financial Inclusion Action Plan 2008-11, for the particular situation of new migrant communities
  • Explore complimentary or alternative policy approaches and practical initiatives to address the main issues of financial inclusion as identified
  • Provide evidence on the issues of financial inclusion amongst new migrants applicable to the UK more generally and develop a pilot working model for the financial inclusion of new migrants

ICAR has carried out 64 interviews and we are currently analysing these using NVIVO.

The findings are due to be published in June 2010.