Strategy in Kingston Martha Earley, Public Health Principal, Lead - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Refugee and Migrant Strategy in Kingston

Martha Earley, Public Health Principal, Lead for Health Improvement

How many refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are there in the Royal Borough of Kingston?

It is very difficult to ascertain exactly how many refugees, asylum seekers and migrants there are in any geographical area due to the lack of systematic data collection for these population groups and the fact communities can be transient and move on from a particular area. However, the 2011 Census does show that 26.9% of the population of Kingston were born outside of the British Isles. This includes individuals from populations of people from the Middle East, South Korea, EU accession countries, particularly Poland, and people who identify as being of Tamil ethnic origin. Refugees and asylum seekers have also come to the borough from countries including North Korea, Iraq, Iran, (inc. Kurdish) Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, (inc. Tamil) Syria, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Refugee Action Kingston are supporting over 3,000 refugee and asylum seekers within the borough.

Prosperous Lives for All: The Refugee and Migrant Strategy 2016-19

Food & Nutrition Community Safety Information & Advice Welfare & Debt Learning English & Interpreting Support Housing Health & Social Care Employment & Volunteering Mental Health & Social Isolation Relocation & Integration

Crisis and Advocacy Service

Active and Supportive Communities commission in partnership with the CCG. Provided by Refugee Action Kingston. Refugees and asylum seekers are able to get advice, information and guidance on a range of issues such as access to health services, housing, debt management, welfare claims, immigration procedures. This includes a counselling service for refugees and asylum seekers many of whom have experienced trauma in the past.

(Project Manager: Ellie Cooke, Community Development Officer) Every 6 months or more Opportunity to disseminate information and resources to migrants on a range of issues as well as answer questions they have.

Early Maternity Care

Sexual Health Access to primary care

Refugee, Asylum Seeker, Migrant Health Days

Also an opportunity to introduce migrants to other services and charities such as children’s centres, screening and Mind. Feedback is also collected from attendees to inform future health days and other approaches.

Early Years - Children’s Centres

Refugee, Asylum Seeker, Migrant Health Days

Find and Treat

Resettlement

Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme Commitment to bring 50 displaced individuals directly from the region to resettle in Kingston. Council staff, public health and housing, liaise with the home office, CCG, DWP and community partners to deliver the scheme. Refugee Action Kingston provide an integration package to ensure migrants are able to successfully build a new life in the borough. So far the borough has welcomed 7 families (27 individuals) under the scheme.

Resettlement

Community Sponsorship Home Office initiative to allow community

• rganisations to welcome refugees and take

responsibility for integration. Community Sponsorship Event, July 2017 hosted by RBK, featuring Minister for Immigration and Mayor of Brockville, Canada. Positive engagement from residents and local

• rganisations.

Offering support to local organisations interested in refugee sponsorship alongside Home Office and national charities.

Controlling Migration Fund Projects

Image: Independent Yemen Group, Healthy Eating and Parenting Course

Funding from the Controlling Migration Fund (Ministry

• f Housing Communities and Local Government).

Total grant £338,528 10 projects delivered by 5 local partners. English for speakers of other languages (ESOL): 4 projects increase the English language provision in Kingston required by vulnerable migrants e.g. entry 1 and ESOL for those who are not literate in their own language. Health and Integration: community classes for migrant parents to engage with schools, healthy eating and parenting course, sessions to support newly arrived refugees, support for young migrants with school work and an advice and advocacy service.

Korean Needs Assessment

In partnership with Kingston University Research to further understanding of the needs of the local Korean community in Kingston. Seeks to recommend measures, or initiatives for the Council, its partners and the community to take in order to promote the wellbeing of communities. Encompasses a broad range of perspectives from North and South Korean communities and service professionals. The research engaged with a total of 98 Individuals