Refugee Integration Project
Our refugee integration project epitomises the comprehensive support we strive to provide at SRCF. Through this project we are able to support asylum seekers transitioning to refugees and prevent issues of social isolation and exclusion.
The project was born out of recurring gaps and barriers noticed through our SRFC housing surgery. Newly-recognised refugees were often found to be struggling with issues related to difficulties settling into life in the UK constrained by cultural and language barriers complicated by misunderstandings and hostile environment. The integration project intends to address the complexities of the issues faced by these communities and provide holistic support in relation to their integration in a new environment.
The integration project centres on 3 different objectives; raising awareness and advocacy for asylum seekers, wraparound moving-on support for newly recognised refugees and sharing the housing surgery model with stakeholders.
The project has been supported and funded by the City Bridge Foundation.
Raising awareness and advocacy for people seeking asylum
Raising awareness and advocacy are essential responsibilities of the project. In practice this involves:
Raising awareness of the barriers faced through a user-led approach
Advocating for asylum seekers to volunteer as community interpreters
Providing language and cultural support
Providing digital support
Hosting workshops and and awareness sessions
Wraparound moving-on support for newly recognised refugees
The project advocates for the issues faced by newly recognised refugees, while providing support services to address these issues.
Raising awareness of barriers and elevating the voices of hate crime victims
Signposting and referring to local services
Identifying complex individual needs and providing holistic forms of support
Identifying and providing work and volunteering opportunities
Sharing model for the Housing Surgery
One of the key objectives of the project has been to prepare and mobilise our pioneering housing surgery model. The success of our housing surgery has contributed greatly to the support we have been able to provide to people seeking asylum in Southwark.
We have begun to share the model with stakeholders across the country, offering presentations and trainings for organisations or local governments hoping to improve their service provision.