28 November 2007, New Connaught Rooms, London
The past year has seen massive developments in the fields of refugee integration, community cohesion and equality and diversity. This creates new challenges for those working with refugees and asylum seekers to facilitate integration, at a time when Government efforts to speed case-resolutions are increasing pressure on the capacity of service providers to meet demands.
This conference was set in the context of the new Home Office model for processing asylum applications and its proposals for national refugee integration services; the Commission on Integration and Cohesion’s report, Our shared future; and the launch of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights. The event called for the distinct needs and experiences of refugees to be reflected in these developments and captured in policy making.
We discussed what is meant by community cohesion, and equality and diversity, as these ideas relate to asylum seekers and refugees before focusing on the particular disadvantages they face when they try to integrate.
Through the examples of education, housing provision, employment and enterprise, we learnt about some of the key dynamics for successful integration.
Download a copy of the conference report (PDF)
The conference aimed to
- Bring together front-line staff and policymakers from a range of backgrounds
- Identify potential needs of refugees within the context of overall service provision
- Clarify the legislative and policy background
- Determine the subject and practical barriers faced by refugees
- Discuss recommendations for ensuring access to services
Speakers:
- Donna Covey, Chief Executive, The Refugee Council
- Meg Hillier MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
- Danny Sriskandarajah, Director of Research Strategy and Head of Migration, Equalities and Citizenship, IPPR
- Roger Kline, National Head of Equality and Employment Rights, UCU
- Jon Williams, Senior Project Manager, LORECA
- Heather Petch, Director, Hact
- Leonie McCarthy, Project Manager, The New Link Centre
- Bereket Loul, Community Development Worker, Touchstone Community Development Service
- Councillor Nargis Khan, Commission on Integration and Cohesion
- Olvia Fellas, Head of Asylum and Refugee Service, Islington Council
- Jonathan Ellis, Director of Policy & Development, The Refugee Council
- Inderjit Bhogal, Director, Yorkshire and Humber Faith Forum and Founder and Chair, City of Sanctuary
- James Lee, Policy Adviser, Training & Employment, Refugee Council
- Theodros Abraham, Birkbeck lecturer and Director of Reconnect
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