Migrant Families Under Pressure

Jon Beech, DirectorLeeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network

www.lassn.org.ukjon@lassn.org.uk

Session outlineIntroduction Who are we talking about? Who are refugees & asylum seekers? What’s important about the differences?Reasons for coming to the UKDifficulties people face when they get hereDifficulties families faceHow might this affect your practice?Case Studies

Session outcomesYou’ll better understand • the differences between asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants• some of the reasons why people seek refuge in the UK• some of the difficulties asylum seekers and refugees face in the UK• how you can make things easier, by the way you act• where to go for more information about the law and the help

refugees and asylum seekers can get• how difficult situations can be even more stressful for people seeking

asylum and refuge

Who are we talking about?

Migrant

What are the other words do you associate with these names?

These associations are generally not positive

“Bogus…asylum seekerIllegal… immigrantUndocumented… migrantsWelfare…. Tourist”

Influx… rising tide… deluge… swamped… waves…

Who do we mean by Refugees and Asylum Seekers?

“Someone with a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of • race• religion• nationality• membership of a particular

social group• or political opinion”

What’s the difference?

Asylum seeker

Refugee

EU migrants

UK Govt have accepted their right to stay in UK

Permission to Work

Access to mainstream welfare systems

/?

Permissions to travel abroad

Choose where to live

Ability to use NHS for free

/? /?

Reasons for seeking asylum in the UK (push factors)

•War• Civil unrest• Equality issues (gender,

sexuality, religion)• Political activity –

journalism, activism

Reasons for seeking asylum in the UK (pull factors)

•UK’s reputation abroad:• Friendly• Liberal• Fair• Safe & politically stable • Prosperous• A tradition of welcome•Welfare state

Difficulties people experience when they get here

•Disbelief – having to prove they have a right to be here• Not able to work• No choice of where to live• Poverty• “In limbo”• Negative media portrayal• Racism

Difficulties people experience when they get here

• Suspicion• Associations with extremism• Lonely• Language barriers• Poor mental health• Very little support•Having to ask for everything• Everything is different

Difficulties people experience when they get here

• Culture shock• Crap food•Weather• Not knowing what “the

rules” are• Embarrassment and shame• Starting from scratch• No wider support network

Difficulties people experience when they get here

• People see you as a label• Culture – TV, film, books,

music?• No-one knows who you are

None of these are about the difficulties of raising a family

These factors are just the background noise to bringing up children in a strange place

What are additional difficulties a migrant family might face?

• Schools/education• Safeguarding issues• Racism•Health problems• Separation

Everything is different in the UK

•Health•Housing• Benefits system• Employment•HMRC & Tax• Registrar • Council• Schools

How does knowing all this make you feel?

How does this affect the way you act with someone?

How does this affect the way they deal with you?

Scenario 1 A homeless couple (a man and a woman) where the woman is 6.5 months pregnant.

What are their options to get help?You have 10 minutes to list the issues and sources of help

Scenario 2 A woman with 3 children, living with a violent partner. She decides she wants to leave her partner.

What are her options to get help?You have 10 minutes to list the issues and sources of help

Scenario 1 The Ethiopian woman is pregnant as the result of a rape in her country of origin.The couple met in the UK and both live on the street. Their asylum claims are separate. How does this affect her options?

Scenario 2 The household are Iraqi. The woman’s partner is a former Prison Guard under Saddam’s regime and he stands a good chance of a successful asylum claim.She cannot read/write in Arabic or English. Her children are fluent in English.How does this affect things?

For both scenarios:

10 minutes to feed back

Where can you go for additional information?

For up to date guidance on social work practice eligibilityFor technical guides on how to appeal claims/get help For a simple overviewFor practical advice with common problems For up to date numbers and statisticsFor information on countries

Where can you go for additional information?

The rules on asylum & migration change all the timeGet info & advice from trustworthy sourceswww.refugeecouncil.org.uk www.asylumhelp.orgwww.asap.org.uk www.lassn.org.uk/resources