Scottish Migrants Conference 2011 - CPAG Conf 2011 (f1)_0.pdf · SMN Conference 2011 1 Scottish...
Transcript of Scottish Migrants Conference 2011 - CPAG Conf 2011 (f1)_0.pdf · SMN Conference 2011 1 Scottish...
Scottish Migrants Network
Conference2011
Scottish Storytelling Centre Edinburgh
www.scottishmigrantsnetwork.org.uk
© Scottish Migrants Network (SMN) 2012 – www.scottishmigrantsnetwork.org.uk Design: www.contextdesigns.co.uk
The Scottish Migrants Network thanks The Scottish Government and the following for support for the Conference:
Images: Karen Gordon Photography – www.karengordonphotography.co.uk
SMN Conference 2011 1
Scottish Migrants NetworkThe Scottish Migrants Network, established in 2007, recognised the need to develop a network of organisations and groups to focus specifically on new migrant issues and to maximise the use of relationships and opportunities specific to Scotland in terms of advocating, information and practice sharing.
To date the SMN has not been funded and depends on the goodwill and support of members especially as it continues to develop and evolve throughout Scotland. Regular networking meetings, conferences, poster campaigns and a website are all activities to support its aims.
AimTo develop an informal network of voluntary organisations, migrant community groups and statutory bodies to work at a national level focusing on issues around migration that are specific to Scotland.
The network will focus on vulnerable workers and seek to encompass all new migrants and migrant issues including: Economic migrants (EU, A8,A2), asylum seekers/refugees, undocumented/irregular migrants.
The SMN will have three strands of work focus:
› Information Sharing: through meeting, networking, a dedicated website – raising awareness of rights and migration issues; providing relevant up to date information or signposting towards existing information.
› Support and Advocacy: on improving rights related to migration in Scotland with a focus on employment and ensuring rights are implemented.
› Practice Sharing: to actively support and highlight initiatives to improve migrant support.
www.scottishmigrantsnetwork.org.uk
Scottish Migrants Network Conference, Edinburgh 2011
2 Programme of the Day
Programme of the day 10.45-12.00 Conference Plenary
Welcome – Jason Bergen, Scottish Migrants Network Conference OrganiserChair – Dr. Mariangela Palladino, University of EdinburghMarcela Adamova, Romano Lav Roma Community OrganisationJohn Finnie MSP Highlands and Islands, Member of the Equal Opportunities and Justice Committees; Convenor of the Human Rights Cross Party GroupLaura Jamieson, COSLA Strategic Migration Partnership Policy Officer
Questions & Discussion
12.00-1.15 WorkShop 1
1. Volunteering with New Migrants – Experiences and learning. Citizens Advice Scotland and the Fife Migrants Forum.
2. Access to Housing – Issues for migrants in Scotland, access to social housing in Glasgow to housing in Aberdeen. Glasgow Housing Association, Positive Action in Housing, Tenants First Housing Co-operative Aberdeen.
3. Enforcement of Workers Rights – Work and Experience. Health & Safety Executive and Gangmasters Licensing Authority.
2.00-3.15 WorkSHoP 2
1. Researching experiences of migration in Scotland – Glasgow Refugee Asylum and Migration Network (GRAMNet) and practical experience ‘Forced Labor in Scotland’ initial findings. University of Glasgow, University of Dundee supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
2. Employability and Training – Partnerships and experiences from Inverness and Fife. Workers Educational Association and Unison Inverness, Fife Council.
3. Migrants within Scotland’s health workforce and Migrants access to health services in Scotland – Exploring the experience. Glasgow Caledonia University.
3.30-4.45 WorkSHoP 3
1. Social Welfare Rights & Benefits with new migrants – Overview of entitlements and practical challenges. The Govanhill Law Centre and Child Poverty Action Group
2. Engaging Media, Migrants and Myth-busting – Discussion, Ideas and Sharing. Migrant Voice and Migrant Rights Scotland
5.30-7.00
3. Migrant Roundtable Discussion with Policy Makers
Plenary 3
Jason Bergen – Scottish Migrants Network
welcomed the participants and thanked the Scottish
Government and other partners for funding the
conference. He introduced the Chair Dr. Palladino who
has been supportive of migrants in Scotland through
her research as well as previous roles.
Dr. Mariangela Palladino – University of Edinburgh
began with an observation: A migrant – in the
collective imagination of contemporary society and
public discourse – is often someone who is fleeing
dictatorships, natural and ecological disasters, famines,
poverty, war. Migration discourse – in social sciences,
politics, the arts – is crisis driven. It is important to break
this cycle of disbelief and fear, and to embrace a new
discourse about migration – an approach that allows
for creativity, imagination, openness. We need to think
of migration more creatively, beyond borders because
whilst borders are there they are in fact being crossed
everyday, ‘legally’ or ‘illegally’. Migration represents for
Scotland an excellent opportunity for social change,
cultural diversity, a growing population; but it is also an
opportunity at human level: different kinds of relations
can be possible, not based on fear, but on togetherness.
Marcela Adamova – romano Lav (Roma Community
Organisation) gave a personal account as a Slovak Roma
migrant in Glasgow for five years and how she had
previously worked with the NHS and voluntary sectors
to support new migrants. This involved working with
many migrants who were experiencing difficulties,
as well as liaising with the relevant organisations to
ensure they responded to their needs. She is currently
working with Oxfam looking at employability with
the Glasgow Roma with an aim to help them to build
their own community organization that will provide
support and as well as ensuring they are aware of their
rights and entitlements. This initiative will also provide
the opportunity to raise the voice of the community.
Though there are still barriers and challenges, she
anticipated that by working in partnership with other
interested parties, her community would overcome
these and begin to integrate more widely.
John Finnie – SNP MSP Highlands and Islands
(member of the Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities
and Justice Committees) gave an overview of some of
his observations as a new MSP, as well as a Highlands
Councillor, regarding migration especially over the
past decade. He noted not only the hard work but also
the economic and cultural contribution of migrants
to Scotland. He spoke of the Equal Opportunities
Committee’s Report on Migration and Trafficking and
the need to take recommendations forward. He said
negative attitudes to migrants are still prevalent in
Scotland and need to be addressed.
Laura Jamieson – CoSLA Strategic Migration
Partnership spoke about the role of the Partnership and
the work they were engaged in with local authorities
on migration. She spoke of the implementation of their
Migration Policy Toolkit, a resource developed to help
local authorities take a more strategic approach to
migration. She said the Team has successfully worked
together with Shetland Council and Glasgow City
Council to assist them to develop a more strategic
response to migration. Dumfries and Galloway has also
utilised the toolkit as part of their resources to assist in
the development of a demographic action plan.
She discussed how the Toolkit had been refreshed in
light of recent policy changes and directed participants
to the website (www.migrationscotland.org) to
download Version 2 as well as case studies providing
more information on the local authorities who have
utilised the Toolkit.
Plenary
4 Questions to the Plenary
› In some areas there are many organisations
providing support and advice to migrants. How
do we ensure that advice and information sharing
is streamlined?
It was acknowledged that there were many
organisations that had a remit to assist and support
migrants but Jason said in his experience, support
in some areas was on paper but not in reality. In
some areas there were big gaps in service and while
community organisations were developing, many
services had been reduced or stopped due to funding.
This was one of the reasons for networking: to share
information in networks like the SMN but also locally.
The COSLA Migration Policy Toolkit encourages local
partnership approaches as well as multi-agency
approaches more widely. The case studies available on
the website illustrate how this can be done in practice.
› Participants were concerned that the cuts and the
welfare reform proposals would have an impact
on migrant workers particularly around access
and waiting times. The demise of the Immigration
Advisory Service and access to legal advice generally
was making things more difficult.
This was acknowledged as a current and developing
challenge. The SMN would continue to try to link
organisations and also raise awareness with service
providers and policy makers. The Scottish Government’s
Relocation Advisory Service website was pointed out
as another resource not only to provide information on
access but also where issues could be raised.
› Were migrant communities more aware about
accessing resources such as the Gangmasters
Licensing Authority (GLA) to report exploitation
after recent investigations?
It was felt there was more trust of organisations like
the GLA especially when working together with locally
known service providers, such as the community
police and law centres. More outreach and work with
community organisations is needed so migrants could
better understand roles and support provided.
› How would Scotland be better able to respond to
migration and the difficulties migrant workers face
with evolving issues such as the points based system
that may have disadvantaged migrants?
While migration is not devolved, the Scottish
Government continue to advocate for more power in
this area and also negotiate for migrants in Scotland
through meetings and responses to consultations. The
Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Inquiry into
Migration and Trafficking involved many organisations
and produced a good report and recommendations that
can be advocated for and taken forward. The SMN would
encourage migrants, organisations and service providers
to also be involved in these processes but would also act
as fora to raise these issues with officers.
Questions to the Plenary
‘In some areas there were big gaps in service and while community organisations were developing, many services had been reduced or stopped due to funding. ‘
Workshops – Volunteering with New Migrants 5
Cynthia (CAS) described the work of Citizens Advice
Bureaux (CAB) and volunteering opportunities. Around
80% of CAB workers are volunteers, and people can take a
range of roles, such as advice worker, social policy worker,
administrator or management committee member. Each
CAB is independently run by and for the local community.
All bureaux are members of Citizens Advice Scotland
(CAS), which supports their service delivery and ensures
quality and consistency across Scotland.
In CABs most volunteers become advisers, who provide
general (and sometimes specialist) advice topics where
people’s rights and responsibilities are regulated by
law. Advisers can help clients by signposting, giving
information and advice, helping people take action
to solve their problems and, with further training,
representing clients at a tribunal. Some advisers
also contribute to local and/or national social policy
work, to try to influence changes to laws, policies
and procedures. Advisers receive extensive initial and
ongoing training, and always have access to support
when giving advice and access to information through
an electronic information system – they don’t need to
learn it all!
The group identified a long list of benefits of
volunteering – increased confidence, work experience,
practical knowledge of issues and procedures,
integration into the local community, social
opportunities and more. Migrant testimonies from
Maryhill, Glasgow CAB’s project were also shared.
Cliff and Marketa (FMF) presented the work and
experiences of FMF, a new voluntary organisation in Fife.
FMF has the primary aim of capacity building individuals
from Fife’s ethnic minority communities through the
work of volunteers. Bringing together members to
support each other and promote understanding of
services and indigenous culture to enhance integration
and community cohesion.
They have recruited and trained 30 volunteers
from different communities including: employed,
unemployed, retirees and students. Volunteer diversity
has been a great resource to support clients on issues
from overcoming communication barriers, welfare
access and entitlement, health, education, employment,
housing, financial advice, and other support. FMF had
supported over 180 clients, handled more than 300
cases, and made many referrals to partner organisations.
Lessons learned through the work by FMF include
evidence that volunteer support and mentoring of
clients was immensely beneficial to both parties. Clients
gained knowledge of the workings of various services.
Volunteers were gaining confidence and interpersonal
skills valuable to them for future employability.
There were also notable contributions by retiree and
employed volunteers whose primary interest lay in
helping, giving back to the community.
In discussions the session made key observations
around the voluntary work involving migrants:
› Experiences from FMF showed skewed client statistics,
greater numbers of Eastern European migrants reflective
of current migration trends in Fife. Shared experiences
across session participants were that access to support
services offered by third sector organisations tended to
be promoted by word of mouth.
Workshops
› Volunteering with New MigrantsCynthia Shuken, Citizens Advice Scotland; Cliff Mwanda & Marketa kolafova Fife Migrants Forum
6 Workshops – Volunteering with New Migrants
Challenges were noted with some voluntary
organisations in recruiting and retaining volunteers
possibly due to the recession. High volunteer turnover
was affecting continuity of work and, in some cases
may, due to limited capacity to train new volunteers,
compromise the integrity of the service(s) to be
delivered, and concerns around client confidentiality
and data protection issues. At the same time
flexibility around availability of volunteers presented
management challenges of ensuring consistent and
balanced availability of volunteer support.
recommendations1. Ongoing recruitment, training and continuous
development of professionalism of volunteers and
funding.
2. Volunteering by migrant communities is essential
in fostering increased confidence, practical
knowledge about specific issues and procedures,
integration into the local community and social
inclusion.
3. Support and service organisations from both
public and third sector need to engage better
with migrants to promote awareness of volunteer
services but also to design services that are
dynamic and responsive to migrant trends.
4. Work by volunteer organisations is making
significant savings to the public sector service
delivery costs and should undertake ‘Return-On-
Investment’ (ROI) to quantify the value of your
volunteer work.
‘The group identified a long list of benefits of volunteering – increased confidence, work experience, practical knowledge of issues and procedures, integration into the local community, social opportunities and more.’
Workshops – Access to Housing 7
The workshop began with an overview of the issues
affecting migrants’ access to housing in Scotland.
Iain spoke of the barriers preventing migrants from
accessing social housing, including legislation,
lack of knowledge of systems, language barriers,
administrative delays and discrimination. Legislation
prevents migrants from accessing local authority
housing and homelessness assistance and housing
benefit unless they have recourse to public funds.
There are no legislative barriers preventing migrants
from accessing housing provided by registered social
landlords (RSLs). For European nationals, entitlement
to public funds is complicated and is linked to whether
or not they are exercising the right to reside. Iain
highlighted that migrants can experience difficulties
in accessing information and advice services to learn
about their housing rights and options before they
are in crisis situations. He discussed long delays in
processing migrants’ benefits applications leading to
unmanageable debt, dependence on private sector
and particular vulnerability to unemployment and
exploitative employment conditions.
Seonad gave an overview of GHA – one of the largest
social landlords in the UK. Currently, 19% of GHA’s
applicants are from black and minority ethnic (BME)
groups – mainly asylum seekers, refugees and migrant
workers. 16% of lets in 2010-11 were to BME applicants
and 6% of current tenants are from BME backgrounds.
GHA created the role of Migrant Support Advisor in
June 2010 to provide support to frontline staff and was
part-funded for 12 months by the Lintel Trust. During
this period Seonad created guidance and developed
a training toolkit for frontline staff on housing and
supporting migrants and refugees. Her role now
involves responding to queries from frontline staff
and processing homeless referrals from Glasgow City
Council for refugees. Seonad highlighted the issues that
migrants and refugees face in accessing and sustaining
social tenancies, including:
Cultural differences in understanding of social
housing and associated costs e.g. rent, council tax,
utility bills.
Lack of awareness of allocations policy and process.
Lack of knowledge of areas if recently arrived.
Potential language barrier.
Lack of understanding of benefits system and
eligibility.
Lack of knowledge of support available from other
agencies.
Racial harassment.
Importance of integration support in locality.
Migrant workers often face difficulties sustaining
tenancies if they lose their jobs and are not entitled
to access housing benefit or other benefits – this can
lead to high rent arrears and possible eviction. GHA’s
guidance and training highlight the importance of early
intervention to prevent arrears from accruing and to
assist migrants to sustain tenancies.
Seonad highlighted some resources which RSLs and
migrants can use to learn more about access to housing
for migrants:
www.housing-rights.info/scotland
www.housing-rights.info/Housing-Migrant-Workers-
And-refugees.pdf
› Access to Housing Iain Chisholm, Positive Action in Housing (PAIH); Seonad Forbes, Glasgow Housing Association (GHA);
Louise Wreathall, Tenants First Housing Cooperative
Louise described the Ethnic Minority Housing Project
Grampian that has been running since November
2007. The project is hosted at Tenants First Housing
Cooperative in Aberdeen and was originally funded by
The Lintel Trust, Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen
City Council. It is now has funded until July 2012 by
Aberdeenshire Council and 4 RSLs. There is one part
time Project Worker and a Project Management team
made up of representatives from the funders. The
purpose of the project is to help and inform all ethnic
minorities with any housing issue. The main nationalities
accessing the project are Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian
but are also used by Asians, Africans and other European
nationals. Ethnic minorities make up a significant
proportion of applicants to local authority housing in
the area: 18% of applications in Aberdeen and 6% in
Aberdeenshire. The main issues raised by clients are:
wanting an affordable, secure home
rogue Landlords
serious overcrowding
poor English
lack of understanding of the benefit system
low income
Worker Registration Certificate
homelessness
neighbour problems /racism
part buy schemes.
There was a discussion based on the presentations,
covering housing issues affecting migrants in Scotland.
Participants came from a range of areas including
Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands, Grampian, Dundee
and West Lothian and similar issues were raised from
many of these areas. Participants spoke about:
how common housing registers could improve
migrants’ access
the prevalence of hot-bedding in some areas
migrants living in accommodation which is being
sub-let
lack of affordable housing in Scotland
how welfare reform will impact on migrants’ access to
housing
where to find resources about migrants’ rights to
housing
illegal evictions from the private rented sector
enforcement of landlord registration
access to housing for destitute asylum seekers
disrepair in the private rented sector
regulation of letting agencies
overcrowding.
Although many of these issues affect the general
population in Scotland, they are often exacerbated for
migrants due to lack of knowledge of housing rights.
8 Workshops – Access to Housing
recommendations1. The Scottish Government should prioritise
investment in social housing to ensure that
affordable housing is available to all people in
housing need.
2. Local authorities should enforce laws regulating
private landlords to prevent exploitation in the
private rented sector.
3. Social landlords should take action on sub-letting
to prevent exploitation in the social sector.
Workshops – Enforcement of Workers Rights 9
The workshop focussed on various ways to report
workers concerns in the workplace, the role of the HSE
and GLA, and included a practical facilitated exercise
to understand these better. Both agencies have less
capacity than previously to engage directly with
communities.
The workshop began with an overview of the
role and remit of HSE, and the complaints criteria
and procedure. Contact information was given to
delegates for purposes of third party reporting. The
talk included information on how the migrant work
force may already have an idea of their rights to a safe
and healthy working environment; however there is
sufficient evidence to suggest that complainants do
not always understand or report the correct aspect
of the complaint to the correct authority. This creates
a delay in the complaint being investigated. There
are occasions when the complaint does not contain
sufficient information or HSE will not be able to obtain
evidence from the complainant, where it is marked as
anonymous with no contact details or HSE is not allowed
to contact the employer. A vital part of reporting is
to provide as much detail as possible without giving
anything that identifies the worker. HSE cannot
guarantee that an employer will not try to find out who
the complainant was. Similarly, an employee can be
named following legal procedures should the complaint
prove to be false or the company is misrepresented.
The delegates were informed that HSE passes on
information to and investigates with other Government
and statutory organisations, for example the GLA.
The workshop then focused on the process and
methodology employed at the GLA of dealing with
complaints received from migrant workers or other
sources of information. The GLA highlighted each
stage in the process and how information is treated
and responded to within the scope of the National
Intelligence Model (NIM).
It was stressed that intelligence cannot be considered
as evidence and the responsibility to evidence that
intelligence lay not only with whoever has received such
but there had to be a recognition by the migrant worker
that merely making a complaint does not alleviate
further responsibility on the worker. A worker may at a
later point be requested to provide further information
and may ultimately be a witness in any subsequent
prosecution.
Language and communication issues remain
problematic and the group were informed that worker’s
rights information is available in multiple languages.
recommendations1. Migrant support networks to help explain to
workers how to make a complaint and how that
complaint is dealt with.
2. Workers to be encouraged to impart information
to the relevant department and the expectation to
assist further.
3. Sharing and transfer of current and accurate
information and intelligence between all networks
should be encouraged.
4. Information on worker’s rights and health and
safety requirements is available in multi-lingual
format and should be accessed and distributed to
protect against potential exploitation.
› Enforcement of Workers RightsValerie Holland, Health and Safety Executive (HSE);
Tom McCrosson, Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA)
10 Workshops – Researching experiences of migration in Scotland
This session explored approaches to researching
migrant experiences in Scotland.
GrAMNet
The first presentation outlined the founding of
GRAMNet at the University of Glasgow in 2009. Scotland
provides a distinctive research and policy context
within the UK for migration, refugee and asylum
issues; immigration is a reserved matter, but care and
responsibility are devolved. Glasgow has a long history
of hosting migrant communities, and now (under the
Government dispersal policy) hosts one of the largest
populations in the UK of asylum seekers and refugees.
GRAMNet was established with two key aims:
To work collaboratively to generate relevant research
to answer pressing questions facing migrants and
those who provide them with support; and,
To bring the best of relevant and up-to-date academic
research to those working on the frontline of service
delivery, policy and campaigns.
GRAMNet members undertake a range of types of
research grounded in a range of approaches, but a
commitment to a participatory and collaborative
ethos is central to the aims of the Network. Activities
and expertise include films and exhibitions, school’s
events, conferences and workshops, project advice for
third sector organisations, media work, collaborative
funding proposals, and postgraduate (PGT) research
development. In the context of the latter, PGT initiatives
aim to link up early-career researchers and groups with
research needs.
Migrant’s experiences of forced labour in the Uk
Forced labour has recently been made a criminal offence
under national law, but it remains poorly understood.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has sought to
extend the evidence base through a dedicated research
programme. The second presentation outlined two
JRF-funded projects both conducted by the same team
of researchers at Universities of Bristol, Dundee and Hull.
One of these projects is a major scoping exercise while
the second focuses specifically on migrant workers
in the UK’s food sector. The latter study is based on
over 60 in-depth interviews, in five case study areas,
including a number of interviews conducted in east-
central Scotland. The design of this ‘experience study’
reflects the desire to access experiences from a range of
industries ‘from farm to fork’.
Support of the Scottish Migrants Network was hugely
important in publicising the research, and for recruiting
the study interviewers. All interviewers were trained and
were themselves bilingual migrants, the majority already
working for local migrant worker initiatives or support
organisations within each of the case study areas.
Based on these interviews, the research identifies a
number of problematic labour practices, building
from the International Labour Organisations forced
labour ‘indicators’. These practices are found in varying
combinations and have frequently formed the basis on
which migrants are forced to accept difficult and poorly-
rewarded work in the UK’s food sector. Each practice
on its own is not sufficient to constitute forced labour;
however their prevalence suggests the need for further
consideration of the level at which policy interventions
are made.
› Researching Experiences of Migration in Scotland kendra Strauss, Glasgow refugee, Asylum and Migration Network (GrAMNet) and University of Glasgow;
Alistair Geddes, University of Dundee
Workshops – Researching experiences of migration in Scotland 11
Further information both on the research and the
International Labour Organisation’s forced labour
indicators can be found at on the JRF website:
www.jrf.org.uk/work/workarea/forced-labour
The discussion centred on both researchers’ experiences
of collaborative working with third and public sector
organisations, and organisations’ experiences of the
research process. One key issue raised was the inherent,
multi-dimensional precarity of doing research with
migrants and the need for an ethical process to guide
this research.
recommendations1. Partnerships between academics and organisations
should be fostered in order to help the latter
navigate ethics processes and procedures, and to
help the former think about practical approaches to
ethics ‘on the ground’.
2. Researchers could play an expanded role in helping
to create effective student placements, focusing and
filtering student requests to get good students into
relevant and useful projects.
3. More research outputs are needed relevant to the
often fast-changing contexts in which migrants’
groups work. Time sensitivity is hugely important
and there is often mismatch between longer-term
academic projects and the immediate information
needs of organisations working with migrants.
‘Support of the Scottish Migrants Network was hugely important in publicising the research, and for recruiting the study interviewers.’
12 Workshops – Employability and Training
robert Wylie began the session by speaking
about his experiences managing the English
at Work Programme in the Highlands.
This successful programme, funded by the ESF through
Highland Council, has been running for four years
supporting migrant workers learn English in the
workplace. The WEA has worked with over 20 different
employers from hotels to hospitals. By making all the
arrangements for each class it minimises the work
required by the employer. Many migrants are employed
indirectly through employment agencies particularly in
the food industries. Courses are now running for these
workers in one of the agencies.
Learners come from a wide spectrum of ages, skills and
nationalities and they find the convenience of courses
at work at a shift end suit their busy lives. Attendance
at the courses is high. Tutors are well qualified and very
flexible. They are supported by WEA training courses
and locally written material in conjunction with the
employers.
Networking with the Migrant Worker Coordinator from
Talent Scotland/Highland Council and the Migrant
Workers Fieldworker from Unison Scotland has been
an important factor in getting information to migrants
about their opportunities to learn with the Union and
the WEA. However, the number of agencies working
with migrants was large and made communication
complicated and difficult.
There was discussion regarding what it is in the
programme that attracts employers. A direct and
personal approach to employers yielded the best results.
Using networks and partnerships built up over several
years was a good source of leads to interested parties.
Maciej Dokurno from Fife Council, Enterprise, Planning
& Protective Services presented Fife Council’s approach
to supporting employability through the Opportunities
Fife initiative.
Partnership with representatives from Scotland’s
Colleges Fife, Jobcentre Plus, Fife Council, CVS Fife, NHS
Fife, Skills Development Scotland and local employer
aims to enable people of Fife to reach their full
employment potential and contribute to Fife’s economy.
Opportunities Fife tackle unemployment through
engaging with those who have been pushed further
from the job market due to recession and helping
people overcome barriers to work. This also includes
members of Fife’s international community.
The Client Action Team and Employer Programme
Team are providing frontline services to individuals and
employers by offering employability support, help with
short term childcare costs, discretionary funding, Money
Advice and ‘Better off calculation’. They also provide
help with funding for training courses, wage subsidy
programme, Single Point of Contact for employers and
Job Brokerage. The team also coordinates realisation of
community benefits within procurement.
› Employability and TrainingPartnerships and experiences from Inverness and Fife:
robert Wylie, Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) Inverness; Maciej Dokurno, Fife Council
Workshops – Employability and Training 13
This model is addressed to the whole of Fife’s
community. To make sure that Fife’s migrants can easily
access this as well as other Council services, Fife Council
supports and works in partnership with Fife Migrants
Forum who act as the first port of contact for migrant
clients requiring support. Once the needs of the client
have been identified the client is then referred to the
appropriate service with any additional assistance that
may be required to overcome any existing barriers.
Both area models work well due to networking and
broad partnership work across sectors.
recommendations1. Increase the awareness of partnership projects
and successful programmes throughout Scotland
through networking and networks.
2. Local authorities should work in partnership with
migrant community organisations to remove
barriers and access employment and training for
migrants.
2. Simplify and streamline the agencies working with
migrants locally and nationally.
3. Continue funding successful partnership projects.
Learners come from a wide spectrum of ages, skills and nationalities and they find the convenience of courses at work at a shift end suit their busy lives. Attendance at the courses is high.
14 Workshops – Migrants & Health in Scotland
Aim 1To examine the evidence about current and projected
contributions migrants make to the health workforce
in Scotland/UK and discuss the experience of migrant
health workers and present data on the local, national
and international projection about carer need and the
impact of the current economic crisis.
This workshop presented the context of Scotland’s
and the UK’s reliance on a migrant health workforce.
It was highlighted that the evidence suggests the
carers workforce is one area where need may not
dramatically lessen within an economic crisis and
Scotland has a particular identified demographic
projection of need for carers – www.scotland.gov.uk/
publications/2010/07/23163626/7
However, the economic uncertainty can and does
impact on workers.
Key issues discussed within the workshop and
supported by the evidence in the report ‘Migrant Care
Workers in Ageing Societies’ (Cangiano et al 2009).
Migrant care workers face discrimination in pay and
working conditions. Recent changes in the points
based system (PBS) has impacted negatively on the
employment security and progression potential of care
workers with a corresponding visa uncertainty.
Anecdotal evidence of negative attitudes to migrant
carers by some older people include verbal abuse.
Organisations like the Overseas Nurses and Carers
Network’s (ONCN) experience indicated employers and
staff need guidance about how to manage this issue.
Aim 2To examine the health needs of migrants locally and
nationally and highlight some of the initiatives which
aim to support access to appropriate health services for
migrants in Scotland within the current economic crisis.
Services such as health, which regular migrants pay
for in higher tax rates, need to work towards ensuring
equality of access. Yet there is only weak data on who is
here, what services they would need to access and their
ability to access services.
Migration on the scale seen in Scotland during the last
10 years has not happened before and services and
policy makers have acknowledged the issue of access is
not necessarily managed well.
Workshop participants produced anecdotal evidence
of migrants facing increasing demand for proof of
eligibility to appropriate health services such as the
those experienced by Streetwork’s staff (a migrant
homelessness charity) on behalf of its clients. Also
issues arose of inappropriate questioning within A & E
services. There was also concern that within the current
economic climate those most marginalised will find
it even harder to access services as the infrastructure
to support them will not be developed and current
initiatives ended.
Web information initiatives to access services:
www.howtousethenhs.com
www.healthinmylanguage.com/home.aspx
› Migrants & Health in Scotland Migrant’s contribution within Scotland’s health workforce and Migrant’s access to health services
Dr Ima Jackson, Glasgow Caledonian University
Workshops – Migrants & Health in Scotland 15
recommendations1. Data is required to identify current migrant carers
and address the future role of migrant carers for
Scotland’s ageing population.
2. Strategies to ensure Scotland can develop the
infrastructure to retain and progress current and
future migrant carers.
3. Implementation of existing strategies to ensure
equality of access to appropriate services for all.
4. Education of health service staff on rights of
migrants to access the appropriate health services.
‘Anecdotal evidence of negative attitudes to migrant carers by some older people, included verbal abuse. Organisations like the Overseas Nurses and Carers Network’s (ONCN) experience indicated employers and staff need guidance about how to manage this issue.’
16 Workshops – Social Welfare Rights & Benefits with new migrants
Henri (CPAG) gave a presentation on the welfare rights
of people coming from abroad. Participants were then
split into groups and asked to consider two questions:
1. What are the main barriers to people from abroad
accessing welfare rights entitlements?
2. How can migrant led groups contribute to
overcoming these barriers?
Feedback from the group work included:
1. What are the main barriers to people from abroad
accessing welfare rights entitlements?
Lack of information and knowledge
Lack of translation
Lack of consistency
Complexity of system and delays
Public opinion
Cultural and Psychological barriers
Absence of first point of contact
Incorrect/conflicting advice
Legislative barriers
Difficulty accessing services (will be exacerbated by
universal credit online application process)
Closed communities (less likely to engage with
authorities)
2. How can migrant led groups contribute to
overcoming these barriers?
Visit advice centres to get better informed
Migrant advisors or volunteers with training
Provide translated advice materials
Improve language skills/ESOL
Encourage others to access advice
Informal information exchange
Developing formal partnerships or networking
relationships
Raise profile of issues and of own community
(internally and out with)
Run courses, invite speakers as community events
Develop toolkits
Campaigning and lobbying for improved access
to services
Encouraging reporting of abuse and discrimination
Contact MPs and policy makers
Perseverance through making claims and appeals
› Social Welfare Rights & Benefits with New Migrants overview of entitlements and practical challenges:
Henri krishna, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG); Lindsay Paterson, Govanhill Law Centre
Lindsay (Govanhill Law Centre) then gave a
presentation on practical challenges. Participants then
considered the following question in their groups:
What can policy makers do to tackle the barriers
facing migrants accessing welfare rights
entitlements?
Feedback from the group work included:
Training staff
Localised decision making
Face-to-face contact
More efficient and simple system
Better information provided to new arrivals
More consistency
End right to reside test
Provide information in a number of different
languages
Improve access to interpreting services
Use plain English
HMRC needs to speed up processing of claims
– better resourced decision making centres
recommendations1. Migrant led groups should be supported to take
action, as detailed above, to overcome the barriers
faced by migrants accessing welfare rights.
2. Policy Makers should aim to make the system more
accessible, in the ways detailed above, and ensure
that those working within the system are fully
trained.
3. Better facilitation to bring migrant led groups and
policy makers together through better funding of
organisations and networks such as SMN.
Workshops – Social Welfare Rights & Benefits with new migrants 17
‘Policy Makers should aim to make the system more accessible, in the ways detailed..., and ensure that those working within the system are fully trained.’
18 Workshops – Engaging Media, Migrants and Myth-busting
The workshop began with some examples of the
difficult reporting that has occurred regarding migrants;
how this potentially influenced public attitudes, policy
makers and policies; and ultimately affected migrants in
terms of prejudice and racist crime.
The context of recession and cuts meant there was a
greater risk of blame being attributed to migrants so
better engagement becomes more important. Research
had indicated that some myth-busting (like general
brochures) were not effective as they could reinforce
existing negative prejudices unless used in conjunction
with other activities and especially more ‘meaningful
contact’ which many of the participants do in their
daily lives. In Scotland there has been some positive
differences in reporting and politicians are generally
publicly more positive – but is Scotland really more
tolerant? Also one of the main issues raised in the recent
Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee
Inquiry into Migration was around addressing negative
attitudes.
Participants discussed some of their concerns in this
area. One of the main issues discussed was the need to
better understand the media and context better and
how to engage more effectively as migrants or support
organisations. The group raised related issues and
discussed some of the following:
Media
The importance of not only WHAT is reported but
HOW it is reported and recognising there are MANY
types of media
There is often a lack of knowledge in the media
industry about migrant/minority issues that together
with lack of time/staff allows journalists to research
stories only briefly. So there is not necessarily an
agenda in articles but simply lack of knowledge or
time to prepare (though sometimes there are agendas
too!).
The differences between national/local press were
highlighted. The importance of local press/radio in
relation to MSPs (who read their local papers). Local
media may also be easier for migrants to access and
share their ‘stories’ with.
The internet and new social media’s reach and scope
was questioned. Also it was acknowledged the
change of the profile of the media due to the growing
use of the internet.
London-based political bias seen as an important
influence on editorials in some Scottish press
editions. Increasingly there seemed to be a growing
link between the language tabloids used and the
language of some politicians.
Importance of engaging and praising journalists that
were reporting on accurate and or positive migrant
issues that could encourage them to continue
reporting.
Engaging National Union of Journalists members and
also journalism students had been useful on refugee
issues and worth building relationships with.
Given the present discussion around regulation, is
there an opportunity to change in ways that may
help?
› Engaging Media, Migrants and Myth-busting Hyo Eun Shen, Migrant rights Scotland; Jason Bergen, Migrant Voice
Workshops – Engaging Media, Migrants and Myth-busting 19 18 Workshops – Engaging Media, Migrants and Myth-busting
Migrants
Some migrants were unaware of media coverage
Many migrants want to speak for themselves
therefore, it is important to support their
understanding and build capacity and include them
in media-related campaigns/work.
Organisations like Migrant Voice provide training
and advice on engaging media in conjunction with
journalists and others. BEMIS also is developing
guidance.
Training programme of migrant community policy
awareness through organisations like Migrant Rights
Scotland was seen as important.
Migrant/minority groups (like any others that wish to
engage) have to be proactive in contacting the media
whether this be through new media or the traditional
media industry to share their stories. Journalists see
migrants as important resources for ‘real stories’.
recommendations1. To encourage and advocate for the Scottish
Government to take forward and resource the Equal
Opportunities Committee’s recommendations
around addressing negative public attitudes.
2. Migrants, migrant community and support
organisations should be more proactive,
individually and collectively, in engaging local and
national media through contact, letters to editors
and praise for accurate and positive reporting.
3. Individuals encouraged to build their own
knowledge through networking and researching
resources like Migrant Rights Scotland, Migrant
Voice and Migrant Rights Network websites to
be more effective ‘myth-busters’ in their every
day lives.
‘In Scotland there has been some positive
differences in reporting and politicians are
generally publicly more positive – but is Scotland
really more tolerant?’
Jason welcomed participants, both policy makers
and migrants to the discussion. These included John
Finnie MSP, representatives from the Police; CPAG;
BEMIS; Migrant Community groups and individuals
from Fife, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Falkirk and
Glasgow representing 10 nationalities.
Discussion focussed around the following issues:
1. Funding Cuts
The group identified that there have been and will be
cuts to services across Scotland, that projects which
are applying for funding (or reapplying after present
funding runs out) will need to provide evidence
of what the (higher) costs might be if services are
withdrawn, for example an increase in unemployment
and homelessness.
Many successful migrant projects are presently
run by volunteers, with little or no funding. These
projects already highlight and identify gaps in present
service provision. There was concern at how are such
voluntary projects going to be managed as demand
for advice and information rises.
It was suggested that advice and information services
should work together so as not to duplicate services.
CAB offices are highly regarded, but struggling to
cope with the volume of people needing advice.
A participant from the Roma community made the
point that different groups require different services
and it is necessary for service providers to engage
with the different ethnic communities to establish
their needs and make sure that services offered are
relevant.
It was noted that there has been cuts to English
language teaching provision.
As funding reduces and advice and information
projects are cut, individuals and groups will need
to be more self-dependent. It was suggested that
a centralised database of services locally and for
the whole of Scotland would be a good idea, and
relatively low cost. Awareness of this could then be
spread through word of mouth and online social
networking. This had been suggested in the past
nationally and carried out in some areas locally:
www.grampiancaredata.gov.uk
2. Healthcare
The point made that if good access to primary
healthcare is available, then there are lower costs for
secondary emergency care.
Challenges when there is a lack of knowledge about
procedures, on both the part of the service user and
the service provider for example, the translation of
medical documents by GP practices or when records
‘disappear’ or are destroyed if migrants are assumed
to have moved away.
Concern about healthcare depending upon the
postcode of the patient.
20 Migrant Roundtable Discussion
› Migrant Roundtable Discussion Chair: Jason Bergen, Scottish Migrants Network & Migrant Voice
Migrant Roundtable Discussion 21 20 Migrant Roundtable Discussion
3. racism and Community Safety
It was pointed out that the media needed to take
greater responsibility for the way that it portrays
migrants. Public perception of migrants can be
adversely affected by high profile, sensational media
cases about migrants breaking the law (even though
noted that ‘migrant crime’ was significantly less than
indigenous crime rates). This can expose migrants to
racism and abuse.
The group discussed the underlying discrimination
in the requirement for migrant workers to produce
excessive documentation to prove who they are.
Several participants spoke about the experience of
ethnic minority, including Roma at airports being
excessively questioned. The Police participant
responded that this is not a Police issue, but likely to
be an ‘intelligence led’ response from border control.
Participants generally feel that there is a sectarianism
problem in Scotland and that this affects migrants as
well.
There was discussion about the UK Government’s
proposal to change the Human Rights Act. There
is political will in Scotland to keep the Act in its
present form. This could affect migrants and negative
attitudes linked to Europe, etc.
John Finnie MSP said that he was encouraged to have
been part of the session and the day where he had
learned much. He committed to take forward the ideas
raised especially around negative attitudes and the
idea of a ‘central advice and information database’ with
his Parliamentary colleagues for discussion.
Those present were encouraged to get involved with
and access information and websites around migrant
issues such as Migrant Rights Scotland, Migrant Voice
and Migrant Rights Network:
www.migrantrightsscotland.org.uk
www.migrantvoice.org
www.migrantsrights.org.uk
recommendations1. Need to network with other migrant and other
organisations to work together to advocate with
policy makers for services and minimise the affects
of cuts.
2. Advocate for central database of relevant services
and support for migrants.
3. Health challenges and cases to be documented
through networks and an online forum/platform
to create a body of evidence and SMN participants
could assist with this as had done in the past with
other issues.
4. Need to advocate for the Scottish Government to
take forward the recommendations from the Equal
Opportunities Committee Inquiry into Migration
and Trafficking especially around information
sharing and addressing negative public attitudes
to migrants.
www.scottishmigrantsnetwork.org.uk