ICAR

Services

Housing

The Welsh Assembly government (WAG) claims that living conditions for asylum seekers in Wales are better than those in other parts of the UK. It estimated in 2004 that only 35% of the 2,359 asylum seekers living in Wales were living in deprived districts, whereas in UK the figure stood at 70% (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008). However other studies demonstrate that the worst areas of deprivation in Wales are also the areas in Cardiff where the greatest numbers of asylum seekers live (Threadgold, 2008).

There are a small number of services which assist refugees in housing matters. The Refugee Well Housing Project, funded by the Welsh Assembly government and delivered in each dispersal area, is a scheme set up to prevent homelessness amongst refugees. It is particularly targeted at supporting refugees who have just been given their leave to remain and have 28 days to leave their UKBA supported accommodation. In addition to housing it also gives advice on finance, benefits, employment and education (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008).

Destitution

In October 2008 the Welsh Refugee Council recorded 207 visits to their centres and services by people who were destitute. 1 of the 207 was an asylum seeker, 17 were refugees and 179 (86%) were refused asylum seekers, 74% had been destitute for over 6 months. A number of the destitute were families. 55 of the 207 came from Iraq and 22 from the Sudan. The Home Office argues that it does not have any responsibility towards failed asylum seekers and in most cases will not provide any financial support. The Welsh Refugee Council does however offer a hardship fund for destitute failed asylum seekers. (Smart, 2009).

Other services for those destitute include The Huggard Centre, a homelessness day centre that also offers subsidised hot meals, free soup and bread. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. The British Red Cross also run a destitution clinic for asylum seekers on Fridays and a clothing project for asylum seekers on Wednesdays.

Research on destitution in Wales carried out by Oxfam was due to be published in late 2009.

Employment and Training

It is estimated that unemployment among refugees in Wales is about 6 times the national average despite having higher levels of qualifications. Furthermore conditions of refugee employment tend to be worse than for any other ethnic minority group, with 11% of refugees earning below the minimum wage (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008).

As elsewhere in the UK, whilst awaiting a decision from the Home Office asylum seekers are usually unable to work or receive any publically funded training or education, other than ESOL (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008).

The Wales Asylum Seeking and Refugee Doctors Group provides funding for refugee doctors to take their exams, offers IELTS courses, lectures delivered by qualified medical doctors, a drop in centre and access to textbooks, journals, internet and practise materials. Between 2002 and 2008 31 members had revalidated their medical diplomas and by 2008 27 of the group were employed (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008).

Displaced People in Action run the Readiness for Work project, offering advice to refugees on a range of employment issues. They provide regular one to one advice sessions giving guidance in finding employment, whilst also providing training courses in such areas as food hygiene, first aid and health and safety (www.displacedpeopleinaction.org).

 However, further progress must be made. It remains difficult for refugees to access training and qualifications gained abroad are often unrecognised. Furthermore, it is evident that employers still discriminate against refugees (Marquis, 2007).

Education

The Welsh Assembly Government has made ESOL classes free for all asylum seekers and refugees.

For asylum seekers access to further education is extremely limited. Other than ESOL asylum seekers are not allowed to access to publically funded training schemes. Asylum seekers are allowed to study, but have no access to student support or hardship loans, furthermore they have to pay overseas student fees. These circumstances make it almost impossible for asylum seekers to participate in higher education.

Lack of information and economic hardship restrict refugees in accessing further education.

The Cardiff Parade English for Speakers of Other Languages Service has a large outreach programme in Cardiff helping over 2000 adult learners, and in 2008 between 400 and 500 of these were asylum seekers and refugees. The Parade Centre also offers classes such as ‘Life in the UK' which offers practical advice on adjustment, for example opening a back account (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008).

However current ESOL provisions remain deficient to meet rising demands (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008).

Health

In 2008 The Welsh Assembly Government passed regulations in which failed asylum seekers would be able to access free healthcare. This overturned the previous regulations which charged refused asylum seekers for secondary healthcare. In the rest of the UK the government has no such responsibility to failed asylum seekers. However at the time of writing a proposal has been announced to extend NHS access to refused asylum seekers in receipt of support.

Integration

Sian Thomas from DPIA argues that barriers preventing the integration of refugees and asylum seekers in Cardiff and in Wales as a whole include;

• The Asylum Process and policies such as restriction on work.
• Isolation
• Poverty
• Barriers to employment and education
• Public misconception and stereotyping of asylum seekers and refugees,
• Lack of understanding by service providers of the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, and correspondingly a lack of accessible information and data concerning refugees and asylum seekers.

In response to these barriers she suggests measures which promote integration should include;

• The promotion of social networks.
• Good communication between receiving communities and refugee and asylum seeking communities.
• Improving access to core services.
• Promoting and encouraging such initiatives as volunteer placements for asylum seekers and refugees.

Professor Terry Threadgold argues that the isolation of elderly and female refugees has led to many not learning English and not having access to welfare entitlements and mainstream voluntary services (Threadgold, 2008).

In response to these difficulties the Refugee Inclusion Project was introduced by the Welsh National Assembly in 2008 with the aim of fostering and supporting the integration of refugees in Wales, and in doing so improving access to, and the delivery of services for refugees. "The objective of refugee inclusion is the establishment of mutual and responsible relationships between refugees and their communities, civil society and government" (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008). The Refugee Inclusion Strategy suggests that the Welsh National Assembly is committed to the issue.

Another project which promotes the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers is Displaced People in Action. DPIA offers refugee awareness training to voluntary groups, schools, statutory bodies and community organisations "to educate the public about the rights and realities of people seeking sanctuary". Last year the inclusion project carried out awareness training with over 500 people in South Wales. These events also provide an opportunity for members of the receiving communities to meet refugees and asylum seekers and hear their experiences (Sian Summers, DPIA).  DPIA also supports a number of small-scale projects that promote interaction between refugees, asylum seekers and people from the UK (www.displacedpeopleinaction.org).

Capacity Building

In 2004 Refugee Voice Wales was formed: an umbrella group based in Cardiff that represents Welsh Refugee Community Organisations. It was formed by a number of RCO leaders intending to empower refugees and asylum seekers and provide a platform for their voices to be listened to. Projects and policy groups include: the All Wales Inclusion Policy, Refugee Week, Media Working Group, Progress to Work Centre, Community Development Cymru and the Refugees and Asylum Seekers Welcome (www.refugeevoicewales.org).

Community Cohesion

A scoping exercise by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2008 demonstrates that racism is still a common experience for refugees living in Wales. Many incidents remain unreported (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008).

In response the All Wales Police Consortium for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, a multi-agency group chaired by the police, was set up. The organisation intends to improve relations and communication through such initiatives as training police officers to liaise with Black and Minority Ethnic communities (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008).

Despite the Welsh National Assembly's claim that the police are making every effort to support the refugee community and encourage cohesion, police discrimination against young Somali men for example remains a problem. Discrimination is also evident in the health service, education and employment. The lack of any Somali employers at the county hall in Cardiff, despite the significant population, is demonstrative (Threadgold, 2008).

Last Updated: 06/10/09

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