Just over a year since escaping from the Taliban and seeking asylum in the UK, more than 150 Afghan refugees, including children, are once again facing upheaval. The Home Office has recently informed dozens of refugee and asylum seeker families, with very short notice, that they will be relocated from their current London accommodations to hotels situated in Yorkshire and Bedfordshire, hundreds of miles away.
It is common practice for new arrivals to be moved to other areas, often with cheaper housing options. Unfortunately, this process often entails relocating vulnerable individuals away from the community they have just started settling in, including their local schools and jobs.
Point-of-arrival
Research from Coventry University reminds us how important these so-called point-of-arrival communities are to refugees, and the implications when people are forced to leave them.
The researchers engaged with newcomers, seeking to understand their experiences since their arrival by immersing themselves in local places that play a significant role in their lives and working alongside those who provide services and support.
The various resources, opportunities, and support systems that people utilize to integrate themselves into a new community comprise what is referred to as “arrival infrastructure.” These include interactions with individuals ranging from paid service providers to friends, colleagues, and even strangers encountered on the street. Such interactions occur in a variety of locations, such as parks, markets, barbershops, libraries, community centers, schools, and shared accommodations.
New migrants devote significant labor and energy towards adapting to their new environment, familiarizing themselves with the neighborhood, determining how to access local services, schools, and healthcare providers, and forging relationships within the community. Securing employment, in particular, necessitates even more emotional and physical exertion. For many, this is dependent on establishing connections with the appropriate individuals first.
Supportive infrastructure
The infrastructure that supports the arrival of individuals in a locality includes schools, community centers, places of worship, colleagues, friends, co-tenants, and local businesses like off-licenses. Relocating them to a different area is not a feasible option.
The scarcity of affordable housing and council accommodations in the UK has put local councils and the Home Office in a quandary regarding housing for vulnerable residents. However, the authorities must consider the financial benefits of moving families against the adverse impact on vulnerable people, who may have to leave behind their established lives and relocate elsewhere.
According to the researchers, access to support varies depending on the location. We spoke to an ex-asylum seeker who found it easy to see a GP in her Dagenham neighborhood. However, in other areas, she had difficulty accessing healthcare because the local surgeries required proof of address, which she couldn’t provide while staying in Home Office accommodation. Despite NHS policy not mandating proof of address, some surgeries demand it, making it a common hurdle for people registering with a GP, according to Healthwatch.
Furthermore, they explain that schools and workplaces can play a critical role in helping new arrivals settle in. These institutions are valuable not only because they offer education or a salary, but they also provide opportunities for forming friendships, knowledge-sharing, and enhancing English language skills, as they observed among new arrivals in Barking.
Arrival hubs
In certain areas, some schools serve as essential “arrival hubs” that go beyond their educational role. Staff members of these schools take on various responsibilities, such as assisting newly arrived families in understanding intricate bureaucratic procedures and building social ties within the community.
Moreover, during uncertain and distressing times, they offer emotional support, which is possibly the most significant assistance they provide.
The study serves as a reminder of the importance of a neighborhood in aiding new arrivals in tackling difficulties, utilizing services, and participating in the local community. Consequently, relocating refugees away from their jobs and schools has more far-reaching consequences than merely affecting their education and income. Their well-being, social integration, involvement, and sense of community are all in jeopardy.
