ERLAI Network Conference

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ERLAI Network Conference
Whats happening in Yorkshire and the Humber?
Benito Giordano, Yorkshire and Humber European
Office Email benito_at_yorkshire.be
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Charity Registration No. 221124
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Context YH Refugee Integration Strategy
ERLAI Network Conference

• A vibrant, multi-cultural region of 5M people a
  long tradition of welcoming and providing safe
  homes for people
• Immigration Asylum Act 1999 dispersal of
  asylum seekers from London and SE England more
  than any other English region outside side the SE
• Settled in local authority cluster areas
  according to language group
• To support the difficult transition from asylum
  seeker to refugee
• Estimated 10/11,000 asylum seekers in the region
  at any one time one third under 18 years of age

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Some of the issues
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• Yorkshire and Humber Region
• Most supported are young, single male refugees
  asylum seekers
• Many refugees working in lower ordered
  occupations and are under utilised
• Main barrier in finding work/working at a level
  commensurate with ones skill is language, as
  well as the increase in young refugees, many of
  whom do not have relevant qualifications/experienc
  e
• Taken from a recent report published by The
  Learning Skills Council in Yorkshire and Humber,
  Research into Refugees in YH, November 2004

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Regional Initiativeslots of examples
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• CHIVA (Children in Vulnerable Accommodation) is a
  new project in Leeds to support asylum seeking
  refugee children aged 0-19 living in vulnerable
  circumstances
• The Refugees New Arrivals Project in Sheffield is
  targeting some of its activities at refugees from
  professional backgrounds, with aim of helping to
  better equip them for entry into local labour
  market
• Wakefield Asylum Team is working with Yorkshire
  Sculpture Park to provide opportunities for
  asylum seekers to undertake voluntary work, as
  well as starting a second multi agency drop-in to
  respond to needs of isolated and harassed asylum
  seekers

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Update on Regional Initiatives
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• In May 2005, 51 Burmese asylum seekers and
  refugees were brought to Sheffield through the
  UNs Gateway Protection Programme. They will be
  provided with a one year support package by the
  Refugee Council and Safe Haven to enable them to
  integrate into British society
• The South Yorkshire Refugee Network was recently
  established to address issues relating to funding
  and strategy. It is intended to compliment
  existing multi -agency forums in each of the 4
  sub regions.

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For more information.
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• For more information on work with refugee
  children and young people, in the Yorkshire and
  Humber region, you can contact
• Tracey Thompson (Regional Development
  Co-ordinator, The Childrens Society, Tel 0114
  2699909 Email tracey.thompson_at_childrenssociety.or
  g.uk
• Gill Barn (Children and Young Peoples Inclusion
  Co-ordinator, Yorkshire and Humber Regional
  Assembly, Tel
• 01924 331588 Email Gill.Barn_at_yhassembly.gov.uk
• OR contact Benito_at_yorkshire.be
• If we cant help, we can point you in the right
  direction..

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