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AGENDA ITEM NO. 9

REPORT TO:Executive Board

REPORT NO:AMR/14/05

DATE:21 June 2005

LEAD MEMBER:Corporate Governance & Leadership

LEAD OFFICER:Malcolm Russell – Strategic Director

CONTACT OFFICER:Gill Grainger – Community Cohesion Co-ordinator

(Tel 292960)

SUBJECT:Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support Services

WARD:All

  1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

To seek approval for the provision of financial support to Wrexham Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Group [WRASSG] and the Welsh Refugee Council [WRC].

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2.1Executive Board report AMR/04/04 [Caia Park – The Civil Disturbances of June 2003] recommended that the Council consider re-joining the Welsh Consortium for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The Board accepted that recommendation on 14/12/04. This has significantly strengthened the Council’s capacity to influence the national agenda and support for asylum seekers.

2.2The decision brings responsibility for an ‘enabling contract’ to co-ordinate services for asylum seekers and refugees in Wrexham which is a dispersal area of the National Asylum Support Service [NASS]. The funding for this co-ordinating function - £10,500 in 2005/6 – transferred from WRASSG [who carried out this work in 2004/5] to the Council in the current year.

2.3This report recommends that the Council continues to purchase the co-ordinating function from WRASSG in 2005/6, but significantly strengthens their capacity to deliver a range of other functions that will enhance the welfare of asylum seekers and refugees in Wrexham. Those services are specified more fully in the body of the report.

2.4It is recommended that an annual grant of £34,000 is paid to WRASSG in order to fund a Development Officer, part-time administrative support and rental costs in 2005/6 with the assumption that this continues for a three year period subject to review. This funding was provided for in the 2005/6 budget in relation to the corporate priority to strengthen community cohesion and is supplemented by the NASS Enabling Grant.

2.5It is further recommended that a grant of £6,000 is paid to Welsh Refugee Council [WRC] who provide specialist legal advice, information and advocacy to asylum seekers and refugees living in the Wrexham under a separate contract with NASS. This amount would allow for a move to larger accommodation and co-location with WRASSG in the town centre. Co-location would allow for strengthened links and improved joint working between WRASSG and WRC who both provide essential support services to this highly vulnerable group within the local community. It would also allow for joint use of some facilities with some Council staff.

  1. RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1The Executive Board is recommended to approve 3 year funding to WRASSG at £34,000 per year for the appointment of a full time Asylum Seeker and Refugee Development Officer, a part time Administration Officer and a contribution to their accommodation costs.

3.2The Executive Board is recommended to approve 3 year funding to the WRC at £6,000 per year as a contribution to their accommodation costs.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

The proposed funding allocations will:

  • Fulfil recommendation 5 of the report into the Caia Park disturbances in 2003 [AMR/04/04]
  • Ensure that Wrexham continues to develop a multi-agency response that meets the needs of asylum seekers and refugees in the County Borough.
  • Strengthen the Council’s ability to discharge its duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to promote good race relations and foster community cohesion.

Malcolm Russell

Strategic Director

4.BACKGROUND INFORMATION

4.1 Wrexham Refugee and Asylum Seeker Group [WRASSG]

WRASSG is a Wrexham based charitable organisation that provided support to asylum seekers and refugees. The additional resources provided to WRASSG would allow for:-

  • Increased support for English language development
  • Increased practical support, befriending and advocacy
  • Increased access to specialist advice and information
  • Development of ‘Life Skills’ programme to support successful integration and promote community cohesion
  • Awareness raising of asylum issues in the wider community, and within and between agencies
  • Development of peer support within the refugee community

Council funding to WRASSG would enable the establishment of an office base and the employment of a full time Development Officer and a part time Administration Officer. Key objectives for the posts would be:

  • To co-ordinate and increase practical support to asylum seekers and refugees including befriending and advocacy.
  • To contribute to the development and implementation of awareness raising projects in relation to asylum issues in the wider community and within and between agencies.
  • To co-ordinate and lead the Wrexham Inter-agency Liaison Committee for Asylum Seekers.
  • To increase peer support within the refugee community including a ‘drop in’ facility and the development of refugee community organisations.
  • To work with others to support the successful integration of refugees into community life in Wrexham.
  • To support the development of appropriate consultation mechanisms with asylum seeker and refugee people.

4.2 Welsh Refugee Council

The Welsh Refugee Council [WRC] service ranges from signposting to advocacy and representation. In addition to specialist support in relation to immigration WRC provide information and advice on a wide range of issues.

The WRC are members of the Wrexham Inter-agency Liaison Committee for Asylum Seekers and have facilitated the multi-agency development of a refugee Information Pack. The WRC also provide information and advice to other agencies working with asylum seekers and refugees.

5.CONSULTATION

5.1There has been on-going consultation with the Welsh Refugee Council and WRASSG through the Asylum Seeker and Refugee Inter-agency meetings. Separate meetings have been held with both organisations in relation to this report to identify and agree gaps in service provision.

6.SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS

N/A

7.IMPLICATIONS

7.1Policy Framework

7.2On rejoined the Welsh Consortium the Council has accepted an enabling responsibility in relation to asylum seekers and refugees. Financial support to WRASSG will assist the Council in meeting those responsibilities.

7.3The Council recognises its responsibility to promote good race relations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. Additional support to the voluntary and community sector will assist the Council to discharge this duty.

7.4The successful integration of asylum seekers and refugees into community life is critical to the achievement of our corporate priority in relation to community cohesion. The appointment of staff within WRASSG will provide opportunities for increased partnership working on this key community cohesion issue.

7.5Budget

Funding as recommended at paragraph 3.1 can be contained within the available budget identified for implementation of the Caia Report recommendations.

7.6 Legal

The Council has a legal responsibility to promote community cohesion and ensure good relationships between different parts of the community under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

7.6Staffing

None.

7.8 Other

8.EVALUATION OF OPTIONS

N/A

BACKGROUND PAPERS / LOCATION / WEBSITE INFO.
Caia Park Report
NASS enabling contract / AMR/04/04
Members library