Translating migration information to a local context: evidence from

the Barnsley Migrant Worker Research project

Robert MacKenzie, Chris Forde, Zyama Ciupijus

1st April 2011

The Barnsley Migration Impact Fund project and our research

• Barnsley Migration Impact Fund Initiative (funded 2009-2010)

• Aimed to develop infrastructure and support networks to assist with integration on migrants

• Develop interventions to help alleviate ‘pressure points’ in areas such as housing, policing, schooling, young people.

• As part of this initiative, researchers from University of Leeds were funded to provide evidence on numbers of migrants, their experiences and needs (Barnsley Migrant Worker research project)

• Research took place between December 2009 and May 2010

Aims of the Migrant worker research project

• Provide evidence from multiple statistical sources on the migrant population of Barnsley

• Identify the work places, schools, places of worship, places for social activities, and neighbourhoods in Barnsley where migrants were working/living/studying/socialising

• Provide evidence on the experiences of the migrant population in terms of accessing services in Barnsley, health, education, youth services, housing ,English language learning and other support services, particularly targeted towards the migrant population  (both ‘formal’ and ‘grassroots’)

• Provide evidence on experiences and needs of the migrant population with regards to work

• Provide the Steering Group with a better understanding of the issues facing migrants living/working in Barnsley.

The research

• Project ran from December 09- April 2010

• Two phase approach combining quantitative statistical analysis and qualitative data

Phase 1: Analysis of existing secondary data sources :

• National statistical data: Worker Registration Scheme, National Insurance Number Database, GP registration records .

• All three were disaggregated to local level, allowing for comparative and longitudinal views

• Meta-analysis of locally provided data from Migration Impact Fund Steering Group

The research (2)

Phase 2: Conversations with migrants

• Scoping interviews with support groups representatives (9)• In depth interviews with individuals and families (20)• 3 Focus groups (30) • Non-participant observation at community centre, church and shop

Phase 1: Finding Barnsley’s migrant population

• 2510 National insurance numbers issued to migrants from the A10 accession countries between 2002-2009

• National sources suggest a return rate of 50-60%: this would suggest a figure of around 1250 migrants remaining in Barnsley

• Sharp fall in the numbers issued since 2007

• 75% of NI numbers issued to Polish migrants

• Numbers as proportion of working age population = 1.8%

• For comparison, proportions are higher in Bradford (4.1%), Doncaster (4.1%), Wakefield (3.2%), Leeds (2.8%), Sheffield (2.2%), Rotherham (2.1%)

Worker Registration Scheme Data

• 1200 migrant workers registered with employers in Barnsley between May 2004 and September 2009

• Numbers peaked in 2007, and have fallen during recession

• Majority of registrants are young (75% aged between 18 and 34), and male (61%).

• Wage rates concentrated around the minimum wage.

• Registrants concentrated in labouring, food processing, packaging, process operatives

Reflections on WRS/NINo data sources • National Insurance numbers and WRS data useful for comparing across

Local Authorities/regions

• Also useful for looking at changes over time

• Unlikely to suffer from ‘double counting’ problems

Reflections on data sources (2)• Neither NINO or WRS identifies outflows

• WRS only covers 8 Central European countries

• WRS does not cover self-employed or family members of registered migrants

• Both are more likely to pick up migrants in formalised, regular employment• WRS is ‘employer-led’ – so may pick up region of work, rather than residence

• NINo more inclusive- potential to pick up spouses/partners who are not working- more likely to identify residence of migrants…but it will not pick up non-regular (‘illegal’) migrant workers

Other ‘official’ sources of data• ‘Flag 4’ GP registrations

– There were 4573 registrations with GPs in Barnsley by new arrivals from outside the UK between 2001 and 2008 (includes economic migrants and other new arrivals)

– Registrations peaked in 2007– Registrations in 2008 equated to 0.4% of the Barnsley population– This proportion is much lower than many other local authorities in Yorkshire

• Outflows of migrants– no robust local authority data– ‘Intended length of stay’ responses by Worker Registration Scheme respondents

gives some indication– 57% of respondents in Barnsley said their intended length of stay was less than 3

months

Reflections on GP data• Flag 4’s may be generated when an individual registers with an NHS GP if:

– An individual was born outside the UK and enters England and Wales for the first time and registers with a NHS GP

– An individual’s registration will also generate a Flag 4 if the previous address of an individual is reported as outside the United Kingdom, and time spent outside the UK is more than three months.

• Data do not allow us to distinguish between migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees

• Migrant workers much less likely to register with a GP than other groups

• Perhaps data is most useful for tracking changes over time

Data from local agenciesworking with migrants

• The following data were provided to us by local agencies

• This helped build a more representative picture of migrants in Barnsley

• Schools data– Language as a mother tongue in schools in Barnsley– Data on proportion of pupils in Barnsley schools for whom English is a

second language

• Berneslei homes data on residents’ ethnicity

• Barnsley Community Safety Partnership data on racial harassment

Schools dataTable 21: Central Eastern European languages as mother tongue in Barnsley schools (2009)

Language Primary schools Secondary All

Czech 0 1 1

Estonian 3 0 3

Lithuanian 4 3 7

Latvian 8 6 14

Polish 71 33 104

Romanian 1 0 1

Russian 18 10 28

Slovak 0 1 1

Slovenian 1 0 1

Hungarian No records No records No records

Bulgarian No records No records No records

Schools dataTable 22: Barnsley LA schools – primary (2009): the figures on pupils for whom English is a second language

Rank School Number of pupils

% of all students

1 Summer Lane Primary 34 10.6

2 Joseph Locke Primary 27 8

3 Doncaster Road Primary 25 9

4 Holy Rood Catholic Primary 25 10.7

5 Pipers Grove Primary 23 13.6

6 St Michael’s Primary 13 9.4

7 Ward Green Primary 12 3.1

8 Keresforth Primary 11 4.2

9 Darfield Valley Primary 10 4.9

10 Athersley South Primary 10 3.2

Schools dataTable 23: Barnsley LA schools - secondary (2009): the figures on pupils for whom English is a second language

Rank School Number of pupils

% of all students

1 Edward Sheerien 34 5

2 St Michael’s 30 4.4

3 Holgate 29 3

4 The Kingstone 25 1.8

5 Wombwell High 15 1.6

6 Darton High 15 1.4

7 Penistone Grammar 15 1

8 The Dearne High 15 1.3

9 Priory School and Sport College 9 1

10 Royston High 6 1.1

Phase 2: Conversations with Migrants

• Coming to Barnsley – Decision informed by variety of motives – Social contacts and labour market intermediaries played an important

role

• Working in Barnsley– Employment concentrated in labour intensive, low paid jobs– Major employers: Repak, Cranswick, Symphony, Koyo, Next, Ventura,

Fosters Bakery, Freshpack – Long working hours the norm– Reports of bad treatment – For some, work experience has improved over time

Conversations with migrants

• Qualitative data provided insight into the experiences and needs of migrants

• This allowed us to examine in more detail some of the areas of interest to the Barnsley Migration impact Initiative

• Qualitative approach allowed key themes to ‘emerge’

Living in Barnsley Neighbourhoods and HousingGeographic dispersal of migrant community • Some concentration in: Sheffield Road, Doncaster Road and Summer Lane

• Important locations for new arrivals (proximity to workplaces) but longer residence leads to search for better housing in other areas

• Largely reliant on private rental accommodation

• Long waiting lists for public housing

• Housing churn leading to problems with developing relationships and communication with welfare services

Social, Religious and Community Activities

• Varied social activities

• Little suggestion of either concentration or exclusion from particular locations (e.g. pubs, bars)

• Socialise with migrant communities in other towns and cities

• Holly Rood Church important centre for Polish community

Experience of Intolerance • Experiences of intolerance widespread

• Manifestations of xenophobia go beyond race

• Poles often targeted on basis of numbers and perceived impact on local employment

• Increased since the economic downturn

• However, participants stressed their positive experiences of living in Barnsley

• Reported defending Barnsley against the perceptions of others

The Experiences of Young People

• Generally positive experiences of school

• Good interaction with local young people

• Desire to finish school in UK and go on to higher education and/or employment

• Retain strong attachment to Polish origins

• Limited options for leisure time

Accessing Healthcare, English and Community Based Support

• Healthcare – Waiting times for appointments– Difficulty accessing specialists – Paracetamol culture – Lag in provision for chronic conditions– Communication issues due to language

• English Language Training– See as key avoiding social exclusion and accessing services– Problems with access to ESOL classes due to working hours – Gender dimension to accessing language training

• Important role played by voluntary organisations and community groups

Conclusions

• Publicly available data useful fro tracking trends, and for comparisons between local authorities

• But these can only provide a partial picture of the population of new arrivals, their experiences and needs

• These data may help to identify key issues

• Local agency data along with qualitative data necessary for a more complete picture