ECSR, The Welcome Centre, 105-107 Maple Road , London , SE20 8LP ,

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About ECSR

ECSR was setup to support Christian organisations and individuals who work with asylum seekers and refugees throughout the UK . We network with secular and other religious groups to better serve our members.

ECSR in Wales

In 2006, our work in Wales was evaluated and a strategic plan was put in place to develop ECSR's effectiveness. Currently we have 9 members who support asylum seekers and refugees in Wales . They work in three of the four main regions, Swansea , Cardiff and Wrexham. At the latter part of 2006, ECSR became a member of a Welsh organisation, Gweini ( http://www.gweini.org.uk/ ) in view to develop our effectiveness in Wales . Through Gweini and the Evangelical Alliance Wales ( www.eauk.org ) we intend serving Refugee and Asylum Seeker projects in Wales . 

Consultation response

We welcome the strategies set out with the aim to create a Welsh society that has refugees and asylum seekers participating and partnering in their communities. We have answered the questions from our experience in working with refugee and asylum seekers projects and faith groups. Please note that the term "refugee" is used to include asylum seekers unless stated otherwise.

Given that resources are limited, what would be your two top priorities that would make a real difference to Refugee communities from within the strategy ?

Promoting better understanding and challenging negative attitudes in refugee and receiving communities (Chapter 6, pg 17, 18)

We have witnessed over and over the problems faced by refugees and the receiving communities. We are pleased to note the work already being carried out in Wales by the Refugee Media group and the promotion of Refugee Week. Racism, discrimination and most of the community tension is caused by how refugees and receiving communities perceive each other. Media has a large share of blame in the way it portrays asylum seekers and refugees as dangerous and useless people group. Very few positive stories come out in the media on the richness that refugees bring to the UK . We would like to see balanced reporting in the media on these issues as media pressure has at many times led the government to amend and implement policies that have detrimental effects on refugees.

Understanding diversity and supporting the most vulnerable: Children

The consultation reports that the most vulnerable group are children (Children and Young People, pg 44) and identifies that the needs of accompanied children and unaccompanied children can be common but also be very distinct (where are we now? Pg 45) . As a whole the issues faced by refugee children can be enormously different from British children and it is important for schools, social services and other agencies to be equipped to face these challenges. At some point in the future Wales could receive large numbers of young people and we welcome the points raised in this consultation.

ECSR fully supports the following statement

"The Welsh Assembly Government's policy commitments for children and young people in Wales do not sit easily with some aspects of UK asylum and immigration policy - in particular, the peremptory removal of children and young people from their homes, schools and communities." Pg 45

Although Wales has a small intake of refugee children, we wish to see the protection and rights of all children living in Wales . We hope the Welsh Assembly Government will pressurise policy makers to stop making the lives distressful for refugee children and families.

How can the Welsh Assembly Government assist you to ensure that the recommendations in the Strategy are delivered?

ECSR has Welsh members who work at the grassroots with refugees. Although not addressed in detail in this consultation paper, we believe Faith Groups have a central part to play (Developing an Action Plan: 14, pg 54) in any refugee inclusion strategy.

Why? Firstly, a higher proportion of refugee adults and children entering the UK have a strong religious faith. To many their faith gives hope and no torture or persecution can dispossess that belief. Supporting them holistically is vital and many faith groups provide this in various ways. Most of the projects ECSR works with are church groups who welcome refugees and tirelessly try to support the basic needs with their limited funding resources. For many refugees the first positive image of the UK is the faith groups that stand with them in their need. This is central for refugees to integrate within communities. Faith groups act as a bridge to integration.

We hope that the work that churches and other faith groups do in Wales will be recognised and supported. W hile recognising the particular skills and expertise people can offer their own ethnic group, ECSR recognises the real importance of faith groups and RCOs serving a diverse clientele so as to discourage segregation and encourage integration between different people groups from the outset of arrival in the UK . We would like to suggest that there would be merit in the Welsh Assembly Government, in conjunction with ECSR and other appropriate groups, to develop a specific strategy and action plan for the active involvement of faith groups.

Employment is a major issue among refugees through out England and Wales . Employers need to be briefed with their responsibility to employ refugees and to use the wealth of skills that refugees bring into Wales .

Training refugees to start their own businesses and mentor them through the whole process might be another strategy that we would like to see being encouraged. Many budding refugee entrepreneurs lack confidence with the whole bureaucratic system and are caught in poverty. We wish to see the Welsh Assembly government working closely with local projects and liaise with the business sector to enable refugee communities to find suitable employment.

A good resource is: http://www.refugeesintobusiness.org.uk/

We welcome the Action Plan 34, pg 47

Establish a specialist all Wales resource that can supply information and advice to those providing services to asylum seeking and refugee children and young people.

ECSR would like to contribute to the development of a set of resources that contribute to the successful integration of newly arrived children and young people into schools.

On Action plan 35, pg47

Put in place arrangements to collate and share existing administrative data and derive new data on the population of asylum seeking and refugee children and young people in order to better inform future policy and to direct resources.

We hope the newly established National Register for Unaccompanied Children ( http://www.nruc.gov.uk/default.htm ) will work closely in partnership with Welsh agencies that work with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children.

How can we best ensure that the implementation of the recommendations is having an impact on therefugee communities?

Poverty among refugee communities has to be addressed just as it is considered in BME groups. Participation and consultation of RCOs and faith groups in policy changes is vital to evaluate the impact on refugee communities.

Encourage media to work closely with refugee communities. The media can be a powerful tool to change perceptions and to get the action plan implemented effectively in Wales .

Employment and Education among refugees are two aspects that need to be regularly evaluated. Action Plan 16 (pg 31) stipulates the need for increased levels of English and Welsh language skills among refugees and asylum seekers. We hope that the changes in funding for ESOL classes announced by the Learning and Skill Council ("Raising our Game", October 2006) will not affect the Welsh Assembly Government's plans for refugee inclusion. ECSR believes that all asylum seekers and refugees should be able to access free 'English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)' provision as learning a common language is fundamental in striving for integration.

Is there anything missing that you would want to see included?

Nearly all asylum seekers we work closely have reported the lack of good legal support. This has not been addressed in the consultation paper. ECSR would like to see the Welsh Assembly Government address this at grassroots to provide asylum seekers in Wales with proper and competent legal support.

Settled refugee communities also have to face the above issue due to the changes in 2005, where the UK government has decided not to grant ILR to those given refugee status (5-year Integration and Asylum Strategy Controlling Our Borders: Making Migration Work for Britain, February 2005) . Many who have been granted asylum in Wales may need good legal advice in a few years time.

Asylum seekers at present desperately need help with their legal cases. With legal aid cuts, we see many reputable solicitor firms distancing themselves from asylum cases. ECSR members are aware of many situations where bureaucratic "mistakes" or lack of time to collate good evidence has led to likely miscarriages of justice and a lack of the protection that those fleeing persecution require. ECSR hopes to see the Welsh Assembly Government address this issue at a political level and also at grassroots to grant a fair hearing for people desperately seeking our protection.