Senedd Committee on Equality, Local Government and Communities - Inquiry on Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Wales
Submission from City of Sanctuary (Joint submission from City of Sanctuary UK & Ireland[1] and Wales Cities of Sanctuary project[2]) – compiled by Siân Summers-Rees, Chief Officer, City of Sanctuary, Tel: 07376 075303, sian@uk.cityofsanctuary.org
1.0 Introduction
1.1 This joint submission includes information derived from consultation with people seeking sanctuary and City of Sanctuary groups across Wales. It also relies heavily on the experience of staff who have worked in the refugee sector for a number of years. The response mainly addresses how the Welsh Government (WG) can support our vision ofproviding a welcome and building a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary from violence or persecution. Additionally, we are part of the Welsh Refugee Coalition and wholeheartedly support the recommendations made within their submission.
2.0 About City of Sanctuary
2.1 City of Sanctuary is a grassroots movement dedicated to building a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for people seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. Our growing network of over 80 groups includes towns, cities and rural areas across the UK and Ireland. They bring local people together with refugees with the aim that, wherever refugees go, they should feel safe and valued, find people who welcome them and understand their situation, and develop a sense of belonging. They mobilise support from local individuals, groups and organisations, offering the chance to meet and work together with refugees, including volunteering to provide practical help, and supporting improvements in service accessibility and inclusion.
2.2 The City of Sanctuary UK and Ireland organisation seeks to support the network. In Wales, it currently supports the ‘Wales Cities of Sanctuary’ project, which is co-ordinated by Displaced People In Action (DPIA) and is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. This project works primarily in Swansea and Cardiff, which have the largest populations of dispersed asylum seekers. It seeks also to spread the City of Sanctuary vision throughout Wales, with the aim of Wales becoming a ‘Nation of Sanctuary’. The project outcomes are:
a. The welcome of people seeking sanctuary will be improved across Cardiff and Swansea through the City of Sanctuary movement.
b. Community relations will be strengthened through an increase in the understanding of refugee and asylum issues in the receiving community.
c. The lives of people seeking sanctuary will be improved reducing isolation and increasing integration.
d. There will be an increase in access to services and an improvement within services in order to meet the needs of people seeking sanctuary.
2.3 Over the past year, in response to the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War, the movement has grown considerably. In Wales, the network of City of Sanctuary groups has grown from two to 10, to include Hay Brecon & Talgarth, Neath Port Talbot, the Valleys, West Wales, Wrexham, Knighton, Bangor and Abergavenny as well as Swansea and Cardiff, with interest in forming groups in Newport, Montgomery and elsewhere.
2.4 With the exception of specific but limited resettlement schemes such as the Syrian Vulnerable People Relocation Programme, UK government support for asylum seekers and refugees is continually being cut back, while policy is aimed at creating a more hostile environment for undocumented migrants generally. As Maurice Wren, CEO of the (British) Refugee Council, has pointed out, it is no longer feasible within funds available to provide a comprehensive professional support service to meet the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. It is therefore necessary to create partnerships with grassroots support organisations and networks, of which City of Sanctuary is a prime example, in order to mobilise voluntary effort to enhance the limited professional resources available.
2.5 This submission is written with the commitment of the Welsh Government to becoming a ‘Nation of Sanctuary’ very much in mind. What is central to this concept is the principle that “refugee inclusion begins on day one of arrival”, as outlined in WG’s Refugee Inclusion Strategy, and we welcome WG’s ongoing support for this principle. In order for Wales to become a ‘Nation of Sanctuary’ WG needs to be working proactively to support the City of Sanctuary movement to build a culture of welcome and hospitality across all spheres of society in Wales. Throughout this submission, and in dealing with the terms of reference outlined by the committee, we have outlined a number of recommendations which would help to realise that vision.
Recommendation 1 – WG should work with City of Sanctuary to build a culture of welcome and hospitality across all spheres of society in Wales so that Wales can truly become a ‘Nation of Sanctuary’.
3.0 The pace and effectiveness of the Welsh Government approach to resettling refugees through the UK Government’s Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (SVPRS)
3.1 WG’s coordination role with regards to the SVPRS is to be very much commended. However WG should take a more proactive approach to the scheme by promoting best practice and disseminating information about what works well. For example, City of Sanctuary groups across the UK have undertaken activities to support local authorities to welcome people seeking sanctuary and promote a culture of welcome in their communities. Unfortunately some City of Sanctuary groups in Wales have experienced low engagement from local authorities. “Professionals and agencies can sometimes appear to discourage rather than facilitate the contribution of voluntary individuals and groups. Yet, as [the local authority] has repeatedly stressed, the goodwill and involvement of the community is crucial for the settlement programme to be successful”.
3.2 One of the key ways that City of Sanctuary groups can support the SVPRS is to increase the opportunities for relationships to develop between local people and those seeking sanctuary. For example, the Neath Port Talbot group has been approached to act as a conduit to local communities and organisations, which can thereby be encouraged to include people seeking sanctuary in their activities. This is particularly important in areas which have not received people seeking sanctuary before.Through focusing on activities that bring people together, City of Sanctuary groups promote community cohesion and inclusion. As these groups are run by volunteers they offer good value for money. It is also better value to provide activities for all people in the community, compared to projects aimed specifically at supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
3.3 We recognise local authorities’ duties with regards to safeguarding and data protection City of Sanctuary groups are able to DBS check lead volunteers, recognise that personal details cannot be given out and are mindful that the safety of these families is paramount. City of Sanctuary is working on a ‘Top Tips’ toolkit which aims to address the issues that have arisen thus far and promote best practice examples.
Recommendation 2 – WG to promote the involvement of City of Sanctuary groups across Wales to support resettled refugees arriving through the SVPRS and to increase opportunities for relationships between local people and those seeking sanctuary.
3.4 A major concern is that there is now a two tier system of support for people seeking sanctuary, which causes a very real risk of division in the asylum seeker and refugee community. Syrian refugees are given bespoke support as they are welcomed at their arrival point, taken to their housing, supported with cash for their first few weeks until benefits start, accompanied to health and education related appointments and supported to find employment. This is in stark contrast with the support other refugees receive. Asylum seekers waiting for a decision on their asylum claim are not allowed to work and have to live on just over £5 per day. If the claim is successful they are given only 28 days in which to ‘move on’ to the mainstream benefit system (or a job) and find their own accommodation. During this 28 day period administrative delays with National Insurance numbers and benefit claims often result in people becoming destitute.
3.5 Whilst there is some specialist 'move on' advice funded by WG, it is limited due to capacity and there is no specialist education and employment advice. We would draw the committee’s attention to the previous Refugee Integration and Employment Service. In addition to advice this service also offered mentoring which we believe is essential to support integration. Swansea City of Sanctuary has a very successful scheme offering both mentoring and orientation for asylum seekers on dispersal. This service often leads to relationships being formed with members of the local community, and to the participant taking on a volunteering role themselves which further helps them integrate in the local community. This seems particularly critical under the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, through which WG has committed to putting cohesion and equality are at the heart of how Public Bodies deliver policies and services in the future.
Recommendation 3: As far as possible the good practice in terms of support to refugees in the SVPRS should be replicated for all those seeking sanctuary. Similarly, the good practice being developed in mentoring asylum seekers should be used as the basis for mentoring services aimed at new refugees.
3.6 Please note also Recommendations 6, 8 and 13 below, on Housing for New Refugees, on Education and Employment Advice and on refugee awareness training for advisers in mainstream employment and education organisations. We would draw attention to the pilot underway between UKVI and DWP in England which is providing specialist JobCentre Advisers to speed up the ‘move-on’ process. If successful in preventing homelessness and destitution we would welcome the roll-out of this initiative in Wales as soon as possible.
4.0 The effectiveness of the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Delivery Plan
The City of Sanctuary response here will focus on five main areas: Housing, Healthcare, Education, Employment and Volunteering.
4.1 Housing
4.1.1 Asylum Accommodation
4.1.1.1 Housing is one of the primary concerns that the City of Sanctuary movement has identified. We have enough evidence to state with confidence that the quality of housing provided by Clearsprings (Home Office contractor in Wales) is often very poor. We receive frequent reports of boilers or cookers not working, inadequate furniture and carpets. There is a lack of maintenance and the housing is often damp which can cause health issues. In one case a lack of running hot water contributed to the young boy in the family becoming ill and missing a week of school. The parents’ concerns are now compounded by a penalty notice issued by the school for non-attendance.
4.1.1.2 When housing concerns are being addressed (usually after a considerable length of time), it is often without due respect for the privacy of the occupants. In another report from an asylum seeker who is also a Swansea City of Sanctuary volunteer, an electrician called out by Clearsprings to fix her cooker arrived late in the evening and in conversation with her was very disrespectful to people seeking sanctuary.
4.1.1.3 Perhaps most worryingly, people frequently report fear that highlighting maintenance issues will result in being moved out of an area where they may have only just been able to settle. Although Swansea City of Sanctuary has a very high number of asylum seekers volunteering with them, none were prepared to give named accounts of the issues with housing they have experienced for this reason.
4.1.1.4 Although asylum accommodation is not devolved, there are ways in which WG can use its powers to seek to improve this dire situation. Action to address the quality of housing for people seeking sanctuary is imperative, not least because of the links between housing and physic