current system failing refugees

current system failing refugees

Refugees are being failed by a two-tier system which leaves people homeless and destitute even when granted the right to stay, and seriously damages their prospects of integration.

The ineffective two-tier system has been further exposed by an All Party Parliamentary Group report this week supported by the Refugee Council; which pointed out in stark detail the disparity in refugee protection. While the report is positive about the support provided by one resettlement scheme, it finds that people whose refugee status is granted following an asylum claim are left to rely on charity, which is patchy and insufficient.

Delays and confusion about important paperwork; a cliff-edge of support following a positive decision on refugee status; patchy English language provision; and a lack of employment and skills support all prevent refugees integrating successfully.

Our own work has highlighted this issue in the past. In a discussion we convened in October 2015, a range of refugees took part in an open discussion where they could freely discuss their concerns about what challenges they had faced since arriving in the UK. We held focus groups and workships over the year following in locations around Britain. Consistently, respondents wanted to become part of their new society and make a life, but found huge barriers in their way to doing so.

Refugees can wait months or years to be approved and granted leave to remain, if they are even successful. But for many, things do not improve after they are allowed to remain. They are asked to move out of asylum seeker accommodation almost immediately. With almost no state support and usually no support network, new refugees are expected to find work, find accommodation and settle in to their new life.

In many cases the simplest tasks prove insurmountable – for example high street banks not accepting ILR documents in lieu of passports, even though they are perfectly valid. Without a bank account, refugees are then unable to claim any support they are entitled to, or even receive wages.

We have a situation where people who are ready and waiting to contribute and integrate are instead left depressed, destitute and homeless. And it would be easy to fix. The resettlement programme for Syrian refugees has set some examples for good practice – but it only applies to a very small number of those with refugee status.

Providing effective transition support after granting leave to remain including access to English classes, employment advice alongside the instant right to work, and interim accommodation would be a cost-effective way of both fulfilling our duty to vulnerable people, breaking down barriers in communities and avoiding wasted potential.

The APPG report is a timely reminder, ahead of the coming General Election, that our refugee protection system is still in urgent need of fixing.