24th January 2018

Kama Petruczenko, Advocacy Network Co-ordinator, Refugee Council

Notes from spotlight:
We talked about the move-on period and this discussion evolved somewhat and we ended up taking about hostility and various barriers that people seeking asylum/refuge are facing in the UK and what can be done to improve their situation.
After my spotlight on move-on period I asked the following question in order to start our discussion: Imagine that all of a sudden we have money and capacity to provide service to every person who is transitioning from the asylum support into mainstream system. What problems we will be able to solve and what will still be left?
People said that we would be more welcoming of refugees, it will be easier to find them housing and prevent homelessness. Newly recognised refugees would also get advice about which benefits and other entitlements they are now eligible to get, potentially cutting down delays with getting these benefits.
We have recognised that even if we take all these steps, have dedicated and supportive members of staff to help newly recognised refugees, even if we are able to see 100% of people, some of the problems will prevail. People will still have only 28 days to get benefits, find housing, job, open bank account etc. Despite our best efforts many of them would still became destitute. This led us to conclude that we also have to engage in campaign and policy work that can lead to changing the system for the better.
I said that there any many ways in which people can get involved in policy, influencing and campaign work. Doing such work requires resources and commitment on the side of an organisation. I have also stressed the importance of sharing information with organisations who are already doing policy/campaign work or to support existing campaigns. I encouraged participants to subscribe to the Advocacy Network<
What else people were saying:
- Legislation is repressive and some groups that are especially vulnerable suffer the most. We need to change law to make it more fair and we need to galvanise support of public opinion. Important point was made about late disclosures, how trauma impacts on memory etc.
- We need to change language we use to talk about asylum and immigration (here I gave some examples of terms we use at the Refugee Council: people seeking asylum instead of asylum seekers, separated children instead of UCAS, refused instead of failed asylum seekers, irregular migrants instead of overstayers).
- We need to better inform people going through the immigration system about what they can expect, what evidence is required. People are often not aware of challenges they will have to face, they should have access to good quality advice.
- We said it is not possible to integrate in 28 days, we should be more flexible and allow people more time to settle in and integrate. We should also be more supportive throughout this process (goes back to what was said above).
- We need to understand why people are fleeing their homes, why they are here in the UK. We talked about fantastic play that All African Women’s Group is staging: We are here because you are there. It goes to the very heart of why people are forced to flee their homes and leave their families behind. We talked about relations of power, exploitations and the history of colonialism neo-colonialism, racism and slavery, arms deals and exploitation done by multi-national corporations. We advocate for the government who has a strategy for giving people chance and opportunity to live and grow, not just survive on a bare minimum and in a state of fear of deportation or detention.
- We discussed how refugees are treated: without dignity and respect, they end up destitute. How they can start rebuilding their lives?
- We talked about push and pull factors (why people come to the UK and why they leave their homes). One participant gave an example of Congo and how many organisations are supporting the war there to continue.
- We then moved to talk about the policy work: everyone recognised it is an important tool and when we are successful, we not only help people who are now in the system but also everyone who comes next.
- Policy work is important for long term goals and to create a change.
- Someone said that politicians don’t care about people seeking asylum and refuge because they don’t vote, they get nothing out from supporting them. One of the participants made an interesting point: people who are from the Commonwealth can vote in the UK.
- We end up taking about difference between policy and practice. How traumatic events are affecting memory, how then it impacts on credibility (examples from UK Lesbian Gay Immigration Group).
- Lastly we recognised the importance of education and spreading awareness in order to have a society which understands needs of people seeking shelter in the UK.
Short info about the Refugee Council:
For over 60 years the Refugee Council has been working directly with refugees, and supporting them to rebuild their lives. We also speak up for refugees using our direct work as an evidence base, and ensure refugees have a stronger and more influential voice in decisions that will affect them. Our services include: refugee support and integration< work with people seeking asylum< refugee resettlement< therapeutic services< supporting separated children< health project for refugees and people seeking asylum< work with Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs)< We work with a range of partners and in collaboration to ensure we can best support our clients.
We run a project within our advocacy team: the Advocacy Network< The aim of the Advocacy Network is to provide a direct link between the Refugee Council's Advocacy Team and other individuals and organisations working with refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK. We want to bridge the gap between small and big charities, bring different experts together, work closer with colleagues from homelessness, faith, legal and heath professions, and enable Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs) to contribute to the policy debate more. This is a nation-wide project, we are going to work closely with colleagues in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. You can contact Kama Petruczenko for more details (E:<mailto:> , T: 020 7346 6768).
Kama Petruczenko
Advocacy Network Co-ordinator
Direct line: 020 7346 6768
T: 020 7346 6700
F: 020 7737 3306
Refugee Council
PO Box 68614
London
E15 9DQ