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7 major myths and facts about women asylum seekers
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A civilised society mental health provision for refugees and asylum-seekers in England and Wales
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Asylum: understanding public attitudes
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Between a mountain and a sea: Refugees writing in Wales
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Bordering on Concern: Child Trafficking in Wales
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Contacts
6Amnesty International Wales
Temple Court
Cathedral rd
Cardiff
CF11 9HA
Telephone: 02920786415
Fax: 02920786416
Email:
Website: www.amnesty.org.uk/wales
AWETU
120-122 Broadway
Roath
Cardiff
CF24 1NJ
Telephone: 02920488002
Email:
Website: www.awetu.org.uk
British Red Cross Refugee service, South and East Wales
Bradbury House
Mission Court
NewportSouth Wales
NP20 2DW
Telephone: 01633245750
Website: http://www.redcross.org.uk/standard.asp?id=89415
Butetown Community Centre
Loudon Square
Butetown
Cardiff
CF10 5UZ
Telephone: 02920487658
Email: (Carrole Fox: Chairperson)
Website: http://www.butetowncommunitycentre.co.uk/
Cardiff Basic Skills Service
The Friary Community Education Centre
The Friary
Cardiff
CF10 3FA
Telephone: 02920227472/3
Fax: 02920227471
Email:
Website: http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2869,3067,3920&parent_directory_id=2865&id=2145
Cardiff Community Housing Association
2 Ocean Way
Ocean Park
Cardiff
CF24 5TG
Telephone: 02920462142
Fax: 02920468444
Website: www.ccha.org.uk
Cardiff Council Refugee Support Team
158-164 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 1DL
Telephone: 02920454854
Cardiff Council
County Hall
Atlantic Wharf
Cardiff.
CF10 4UW
Telephone: 02920872000
Email:
Website: http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/
Children in Wales
25 Windsor Place
Cardiff
CF10 3BZ
Telephone: 02920342434
Fax: 02920343134
Email:
Website: www.childreninwales.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau: Cardiff
1st Floor, Castle House
Castle Street
Cardiff
CF10 1BS
Telephone: 02920346490
Fax: 02920220821
Website: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/bureau_detail.htm?serialnumber=102929
Displaced People in Action
CSV House
Williams Way
Cardiff
CF10 5DY
Telephone: 02920388389
Fax: 02920388389
Email:
Website: http://www.displacedpeopleinaction.org
Equality and Human Rights Commission
3rd Floor
3 Callaghan Square
Cardiff
CF10 5BT
Telephone: 02920447710
Helpline: 08456048810
Fax: 02920447712
Email:
Website: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/wales/
The Huggard Centre (Homelessness day centre)
Tresillian Way
Cardiff
CF10 5JZ
Telephone: 02920349980
Fax: 02920349981
Email:
Website: http://huggard.org.uk/index.html
The Immigration Advisory Service
30 Richmond Road
Roath
Cardiff
CF24 3AS
Telephone: 02920496662
Website: http://www.iasuk.org/home.aspx
Iraqi Community Association of Wales
Cae Cob
Aspen Close
St Mellons
Cardiff
CF3 0BT
Telephone: 02920372032
Iranian Community Organisation
C/o Welsh Refugee Council
Phoenix House
389 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 1TP
Telephone: 07939439067
Job Centre Plus
64 Charles Street
Cardiff
CF10 2GS
Telephone: 02920428400
Marlborough Road Partnership: Cardiff Supported Housing for Single Young People
44-46 Marlborough Road
Roath
Cardiff
CF23 5BX
Telephone: 02920497531
Fax: 02920453083
Email: caroline.o'shaughnessy@barnardos.org.uk
Website: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/marlboroughroad
Marlborough Road Partnership: Cardiff Young Families
46 Marlborough Road
Roath
Cardiff
Cardiff City
CF23 5BX
Telephone: 02920497531
Fax: 02920453083
Email: caroline.o'shaughnessy@barnardos.org.uk
Website: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/marlboroughroad
Refugee Voice Wales
C/o Welsh Refugee Council
Phoenix House
389 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 1TP
Telephone: 02920432987
Fax: 02920432980
Email:
Website: www.refugeevoicewales.org
The Parade ESOL Service (English for Speakers of Other Languages)
The Parade Centre
28 The Parade
Roath
Cardiff
CF24 3AB
Telephone: 02920495578
Fax: 02920484022
Email:
Refugee Children's Advice and Information Worker
Kathryn Tucker
Wales Strategic Migration Partnership
Brynglas Bungalow
Brynglas Road
Newport
NP20 5QU
Telephone: 01633855095
Mobile: 07791411495
Email:
Refugee Well Housing Project
C/o Welsh Refugee Council
Phoenix House
389 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 1TP
Telephone: 02920489800
Shelter Cymru
PO Box 5002
Cardiff
CF5 3YY
Telephone: 08450755005
Fax: 02920566096
Website: http://www.sheltercymru.org.uk
The Somali Integration Society
Dominions House
Queen Street
Cardiff
CF10 2AR
Telephone: 02920397881
Website: http://sisuk.org/
South Wales Police Authority
Tŷ Morgannwg
Police Headquarters
Bridgend
CF31 3SU
Telephone: 01656869366
Fax: 01656869366
Email:
Website: http://www.southwalespoliceauthority.org.uk/
SOVA Wales Refugee Services
Marine House
23 Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff
CF10 5DP
Telephone: 02920495281
STAR
Website: www.star-network.org.uk
UK Border Agency Public Enquiry Office
General buildings
Ground floor
31-33 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 0AB
Website: http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/contact/applyinginperson/
The Wales Asylum Seeking and Refugee Doctors Group (WARD)
Mrs Leona Walsh (Performance Manager)
School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
Cardiff University
Neuadd Meirionnydd
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4YS
Telephone: 02920687417 Extension: 87417
Email:
Wales Strategic Migration Partnership (WSMP)
Newport City Council
Brynglas Bungalow
Brynglas Road
Newport
NP20 5QU
Telephone: 01633855095
Fax: 01633 858468
Welsh Assembly Government
Crown Building
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
Telephone: 08450104400
Website: http://wales.gov.uk
Welsh Refugee Council
Phoenix House
389 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 1TP
Telephone: 02920489800
Fax: 02920432980Email:
Website: http://www.welshrefugeecouncil.org
Women Connect First
7 Neville Street
Cardiff
CF11 6LP
Telephone: 02920343154
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Context
7Cardiff, the Welsh Capital, is the largest and most populous city in Wales with an estimated population of more than 315,000 (www.visitcardiff.com).
Cardiff's role as a major port in the 19th century was fundamental to the region's industrialization, whilst also giving rise to immigration into the area. Initially immigrants came from Europe, Yemen and Somalia. Immigration continued throughout the 20th
century with a large number of people from Asia and The Caribbean settling in the area. Today Cardiff continues to receive a high number of asylum seekers and economic migrants and estimates suggest that 1 in 10 residents belong to an ethnic minority (www.cardiff.gov.uk). Whilst Cardiff may claim to have one of the longest established ethnic minority communities in the UK, the council still recognises that more must be done to further integration and provide equal opportunities to these communities (www.cardiff.gov.uk).
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Creative regeneration: Lessons from ten community arts projects
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Current Situation
9Refugees
In 2005 Cardiff County Council estimated the number of refugees in Cardiff to be somewhere around 6000 (Sherrie, 2007). The number of refugees in Cardiff has increased dramatically since Cardiff became a dispersal area. Furthermore, some have been attracted by the previously established Somali and Yemeni communities.
In 2005 Butetown was the area with the highest proportion of non-white and mixed race residents at almost 35%. Riverside had the second highest (Cardiff Communities First, 2005). The geographical spread of refugees is similar.
Cardiff Bay/ButetownSource:flickr.com/photos/careyd/2024139527Prior to the dispersal of asylum seekers to Cardiff there were only 8 organisations that provided any targeted assistance to refugees, and few refugee community organisations (RCOs). Furthermore decision-makers did not consider refugees and their needs to be an important issue (Robinson, 1999). Since dispersal however there has been an improvement in the number of services and the Welsh National Assembly has demonstrated a more positive political attitude to asylum, despite some arguments that it has been slow to realise its responsibility (Welsh refugee Council, 2007). The Refugee Inclusion Strategy (2008) demonstrates a higher level of commitment.
Asylum Seekers
At any one time there are about 2300 asylum seekers dispersed across four cluster areas in Wales. Cardiff receives the most at around 49%. In April 2009 52% of asylum seekers in Wales were made up of families, and in 33% of the families a woman was head of the household. (www.newport.gov.uk)
In Cardiff at the end of June 2009 there were 980 asylum seekers receiving UKBA (NASS) support and in supported accommodation (Home Office, 2009).
It is important to note that there are some differences between policy in Wales and the rest of the UK concerning asylum seekers:
- ESOL Provision: Welsh Assembly Government provides free ESOL for asylum seekers, whereas in the rest of the UK there are restrictions.
- Health: New NHS regulations in Wales grant asylum seekers, and failed asylum seekers, free health care. In the UK the government has no such responsibility.
Sian Summers from Displaced People in Action argues that the Welsh Assembly Government has a different perspective towards asylum seekers and refugees. She suggests that unlike the UK government Welsh policy looks to support refugees and asylum seekers living in Wales and promotes integration.
Whilst the Welsh National Assembly has declared that it is taking steps to accommodate asylum seekers in Wales, legal provisions and mental health services are deficient and there is also a need for more outreach work to support vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees (Sian Summers, DPIA). Furthermore, it remains the case that the worst areas of deprivation in Wales are also the areas in Cardiff where the greatest numbers of asylum seekers live (Threadgold, 2008).
Key Organisations
Displaced People in Action
"DPIA works for the relief of those seeking asylum and those granted refugee status that are in conditions of need, hardship and distress and to promote the integration of those seeking asylum and those granted refugee status by delivering following services" (DPIA services poster). Services include; readiness for work, refugee inclusion and employment service and ESOL classes. DPIA also offers support and guidance for promoting the development of RCOs and in doing so hopes to promote community development. Furthermore DPIA provides refugee awareness training and promotes cross cultural activities as part of the organisation's inclusion initiative.
Refugee Voice Wales
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 upon which their voices would 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)
Somali Integration Society
The Somali Integration Society was established to enable the Somali community to become self-sufficient and independent, whilst allowing them to function and gain recognition as equal and essential members of society and the Cardiff community (http://sisuk.org/aims/).
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Dispersal of asylum seekers: Press and public attitudes around the UK
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Educational and training needs of the Somali community in South Glamorgan
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English language as a barrier to employment, education and training
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History
13Before the implementation of the 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act Wales very few asylum seekers and refugees settled in Wales. There was however a small refugee community. The Vietnamese were perhaps the first to arrive in 1979, followed by Somalis fleeing civil war in the 1980s. Many Somalis settled in Cardiff, attracted by the small yet established community already there (Robinson, 2006).
In 1997 the Welsh Refugee Council commissioned Professor Vaughan Robinson to conduct some research into refugees in Wales. Professor Robinson found that there were approximately 3565 refugees and asylum seekers living in Wales, with 67% living in Cardiff. 70% were Somali, 9% Vietnamese, 7% Iranian, 6% Sudanese and 6% Iraqi.
Professor Robinson found that service provision for refugees at this time was extremely poor and attitudes towards asylum and refugee matters were shaped by a ‘culture of ignorance, disbelief and denial'. An absence of research and information concerning refugees in Wales and a widespread refusal to acknowledge the issues allowed organisations to avoid their responsibilities towards refugees (Robinson, 2006).
The Immigration and Asylum Act of 1999 has had the most significance in the history of refugee settlement in Cardiff. The dispersal of asylum seekers away from London and the South East to other regions of the UK was introduced under the act in order to reduce the demand on areas where there was a lack of housing. The dispersal process was overseen by a new agency called the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), which provided support and accommodation to adult asylum seekers via contracts with various councils around the country. As part of Home Office restructuring, NASS ceased to exist as a directorate in 2006 and all asylum support issues are now dealt with by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA).
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Immigration and Inclusion in South Wales
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Investigation into the allegations made by Louise Perrett about her experiences working for the UK Border Agency (July 2010)
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Local government finance [Wales]: Special grant report [No. 2] Wales 2000: Special grant for asylum seekers [Adults, families of asylum seekers and unaccompanied asylum seeking children]
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Media monitoring report Sept 02-March 03
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Migrants Cities Research: Cardiff
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References
19Andrew, Holly ; Pollard, Naomi and Shah, Jaideep (2008): Living Together Programme, Migrants Cities Research- Cardiff.
Cardiff Communities First (2005) Black and Ethnic Minority Communities Consultation Report, Cardiff: Cardiff Communities First.
Communities and Housing in Wales, Cardiff, Welsh Assembly Government.
Home Office (2009) Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary. April-June 2009, London: Home Office.
Home Office (2009) Crime in England and Wales 2008/9: Welsh Fact Sheet, London: Home Office.
Kelly, Emma (2009) Bordering on Concern: Child Trafficking in Wales, London: ECPAT.
Marquis, Sherrie (2007) An Audit of Refugee Skills and Qualifications in Wales- A Research Summary, Cardiff: Welsh Refugee Council.
Robinson, Vaughan (1999) Cultures of Ignorance, Disbelief and Denial: Refugees in Wales, Journal of Refugee Studies, Volume 12(1): 78-87.
Robinson, Vaughan (2006) Mapping the Field: Refugee Housing in Wales, Cardiff: Welsh Refugee Council.
Smart, Kate (2009) Tally of destitution among asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and refugees in Wales, Cardiff: Welsh Refugee Council.
Threadgold, Terry et al (2008) Immigration and Inclusion in South Wales, Cardiff, University of Cardiff.
Welsh Assembly Government (2001) 2001 Census Snapshot of Black and Minority Ethnic
Welsh Assembly Government (2004) A Statistical Focus on Ethnicity in Wales, Cardiff: Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government (2008) Refugee Inclusion Strategy, Cardiff: Welsh Assembly Government.
Welsh Assembly Government (2008b) Statistics on Migrant Workers in Wales, Cardiff: Welsh Assembly Government.
Welsh Refugee Council (2007) Evidence submitted to the Independent Asylum Commission, Cardiff: Welsh Refugee Council.
Web Resources
www.brtishcouncil.org/livingtogether
www.displacedpeopleinaction.org/
flickr.com/photos/careyd/2024139527/
www.newport.gov.uk/_dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=refugeesasylum.homepage
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Refugee Inclusion Strategy
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