Current Situation
Bristol is home to a large number of African refugees and asylum seekers from Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Eritrea, along with others from the Middle East and Asia, namely Turkey (especialy Turkish Kurds), Iraq (Iraqi and Kurdish), Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.
According to Refugee Action the largest single group are Somali: the 15-20,000 Somalis living in Bristol make up 75% of all asylum seekers and refugees in Bristol. There is also a growing Chinese community, with the latest figures estimating at 6,500. Of these, 500 are ethnic Chinese from Vietnam (http://www.bacwg.co.uk/). Although migrants, it is important to note that Bristol is home to a sizable Polish population, consisting of 15,000 people (Dallas, 2007). Eritreans and Iranians are both growing communities. In addition, in 2009 sees a new Darfur community association being set up.
Asylum seekers
Due to recent cuts in legal aid, many Bristol solicitors have stopped providing free advice to asylum seekers. This has resulted in many unsupported asylum claimants. Alternatively, others are travelling elsewhere to receive the necessary assistance, for example to Cardiff and Newport. This can prove costly and sometime unmanageable (BBC 2008). Two of the centres still offering free legal aid are Avon and Bristol Law Centre and South West Law Centre.
Refugees
The majority of refugees in Bristol have been granted Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR). Some of these residents have been dispersed by UKBA or have moved from other areas in the EU. A number of Somalis, for example, have come from Sweden, Holland and Belgium and have resettled in Bristol in order to join an established community (Cousins 2006). The main areas of refugee settlement are Lawrence Hill, Easton, Ashley, Eastville, St Paul’s and Fishponds.
There is a sizable Afghan refugee population in Bristol, mainly consisting of young, single men. In recent years there have been numerous campaigns opposing the deportation of Afghans: Bristol Defend the Asylum Seekers Campaign and Bristol No Borders are particularly active in this area.
Minority Ethnic Population
Bristol has a large Asian population, coming originally from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China and more recently Sri Lanka.
As noted earlier Refugee Action estimates that there are somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 Somalis living in Bristol. With them they have brought a range of languages, including Somali, which is now being offered in some schools as a GCSE option (Cousins, 2006).
Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs)
Bristol is home to a range of different nationalities and cultures and is therefore host to many RCOs. There are a range of Somali organisations, including some specific to women and children. For example, the Somali Development Group is led by young Somalis and aimed at 12-19 year old Somali children. Its core aims are crime prevention, self development and mentoring. There is also a radio station and a website (www.somalibristol.org.uk) run for Somalis by Somalis. Other community organisations include Bangladeshi, Kurdish, Sudanese, Zimbabwean and Tibetan all offering a variety of services, ranging from advice and support to education, training and social events.
Key Organisations
There are a number of local, regional, voluntary and governmental organisations working to assist refugees and those seeking asylum in Bristol.
Refugee Action Bristol provides a range of services, including healthcare and advice for refugees and asylum seekers, including those supported by the UKBA.
Bristol City Council's Refugee and Asylum Seeker Strategy seeks to tackle the educational problems of asylum seekers and refugees with the help of a range of community organisations.
Refugee Rights campaigns on areas of human rights specific to those claiming asylum, for example, areas such as destitution, detention and the right to work. The organisation also runs a centre, which not only offers advice, support, and a place to socialize but also English, IT and maths classes and a crèche.
The Butterfly Project at the Avon and Bristol Law Centre offers a free legal advice service for female migrants, informing them of their rights in areas such as housing, education, healthcare and naturalisation.
Other key organisations include Refugee Links, Womankind, Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers Campaign and Refugee Action.
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Last Updated: 06/10/09
