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The Gateway Protection Programme Research Report 12 Key implications The Gateway Protection Programme: an evaluation An overview of Immigration Research and Statistics (IRS) research exploring the integration of refugees resettled under the UK’s Gateway Protection Programme in Sheffield, Bolton, Hull and Rochdale. Olga Evans and Rosemary Murray Key implications for decision makers ●● Refugees commented that they need to be more fully informed of their employment and training prospects The Gateway Protection Programme was found to be before coming to the UK. effective in meeting the refugees’ basic material and ●● Additional strategies are needed to improve orientation needs. Refugees’ reports suggested that the employment prospects. Targeted media campaigns lead agency caseworkers were fundamental to this process. could clarify the employment status of refugees Up to 18 months after resettlement, refugees remain for employers. Partners in Gateway delivery could grateful to have been resettled and plan to stay in the UK. broker employment or work-relevant volunteering opportunities, perhaps introducing and vouching for Up to 18 months after resettlement, lack of employment refugees. and limited English language skills remained fundamental ●● Integration strategies for specific sub-groups barriers to progress towards integration, and an important (e.g. mothers, lone adults, and children) could be source of anxiety and frustration for the refugees. Married developed (e.g. ‘buddying’/mentoring through schools, women with children were making least progress. playgroups, or places of worship). ●● Social and cultural orientation training needs to be The research suggested eight strategies that might further ongoing through the 12-month support period. improve integration of Gateway refugees. ●● The process for Family Reunion, and the fact that it is not likely to be rapid, need to be emphasised to ●● Facilitating more English language training, other refugees before they come to the UK. education, and training towards employment in the ●● More liaison with the police could encourage early days may optimise long-term integration. refugees to report harassment and increase their ●● Unless English language training can be made feelings of safety. dramatically more effective, interpretation needs to be available beyond 12 months. Contents Keywords Key implications 1 Integration Summary ii Refugee 1. Introduction 1 2. Method 2 Resettlement 3. Results: progress towards integration 3 Gateway Protection Programme 4. Conclusions 18 Appendices 21 The views expressed in this report are those of the authors, not necessarily those of the Home Office (nor do they reflect Government policy). The Research, Development and Statistics Directorate exists to improve policy making, decision taking and practice in support of the Home Office purpose and aims, to provide the public and Parliament with information necessary for informed debate and to publish information for future use. © Crown copyright 2009 ISSN 1756-3666 ISBN 978-1–84726–866–2 February 2009 Research Report 12 Summary The Gateway Protection Programme: an evaluation An overview of Immigration Research and Statistics (IRS) research exploring the integration of refugees resettled under the UK’s Gateway Protection Programme in Sheffield, Bolton, Hull and Rochdale. Olga Evans and Rosemary Murray Background and aims ●● Orientation training pre- and post-arrival was generally seen as effective but more could be done This report gives an overview of findings and messages from to manage unrealistic expectations, particularly research with four groups of Gateway Protection Programme around employment prospects and the process for (Gateway) refugees. Gateway brings up to 5001 particularly bringing family members to the UK. vulnerable refugees to the UK each year and provides them ●● Housing was broadly satisfactory. Neighbourliness with 12 months of dedicated support towards integration. was a key factor in satisfaction. ●● State benefits were enduringly the only source of The aim of the research was to monitor and evaluate the income for most refugees. High heating bills and resettlement and progress towards integration of refugees saving for visas and other documents (to enable arriving in the UK under Gateway. them to travel outside the UK, for family members to join them or for ID purposes) and remittances to Africa affected some people. Method ●● Access to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition varied within and between groups. Immigration Research and Statistics (IRS) studied the English language skills improved over time but first two groups to arrive under Gateway in 2004, and remained a critical barrier to integration up to two groups who arrived in 2006 when the programme 18 months, particularly for married women with had become established. Almost all the adults in the four children and the Congolese refugees more generally. Gateway groups (53 men and 76 women) participated ●● Other adult education, ranging from basic skills to in the research. Half were from Liberia and half from university degrees, was taken up by around two-fifths the Democratic Republic of Congo. A combination of refugees, and most aspired to further study. Lack of qualitative and quantitative data were collected of funding, poor English skills, time, and information longitudinally up to 18 months after resettlement with about courses constrained progress. Women with the first two groups, and once, at ten months after children were least likely to have participated. resettlement, with the later two groups. ●● Finding paid work was a primary concern and problem for all groups. Employment aspirations reflected pre-UK qualifications and experience but Summary of research findings most refugees were applying for any work they could find. By 18 months, between one-eighth and ●● Resettlement was a welcome prospect for all the two-fifths of each group had worked at some point refugees. since resettlement but few had found sustained ●● Information provided to refugees improved as the employment. Almost all employment found by programme became established. refugees was in temporary, low-skill, low-paid jobs, 1 Since 2008/09 the quota has increased to 750 refugees per financial and was mostly found through agencies. Employment year. rates were highest in Rochdale, apparently due to The views expressed in this report are those of the authors, not necessarily those of the Home Office (nor do they reflect Government policy). The Research, Development and Statistics Directorate exists to improve policy making, decision taking and practice in support of the Home Office purpose and aims, to provide the public and Parliament with information necessary for informed debate and to publish information for future use. © Crown copyright 2009 ISSN 1756-3666 ISBN 978-1–84726–866–2 February 2009 Research Report 12 January 2009 lead agency intervention. Many women wanted to Incidence, and also reporting to police, was highest in work but were far less likely than men to have done Bolton. Some in Sheffield and Bolton moved house to so. Across the groups, English language skills and lack escape harassment. of recognised qualifications and experience were the ●● Those asked whether they hoped to take up commonest barriers. citizenship (only those in Bolton were asked) said ●● By 18 months, volunteering experience had been they hoped to, but many were unclear about what gained by between one-fifth and one-third of each this entailed or the rights and responsibilities that group. Most had been with refugee community went with it. organisations. Men in Rochdale had been most ●● Lack of wide recognition of refugees’ identity successful in obtaining voluntary work experience. documents was a persistent problem; increasingly Women with children were least likely to have this was being overcome by obtaining provisional volunteered. driving licences. ●● All were registered with GPs, and most who ●● Children were perceived to be integrating well. experienced health problems had sought help. Most Difficulties with schooling sometimes arose and, were satisfied with their care but language was a although these were generally tackled effectively, barrier for some, especially in Hull and Rochdale there was concern about children’s ability to catch where the groups were exclusively Congolese. up with peers. Interpretation was not always readily available. ●● Social connections Conclusions - Between one-quarter and two-fifths of households had made Family Reunion applications to bring Gateway lead agencies fulfilled their grant agreements. family members to the UK. Refugees were glad to be in the UK and planned to stay. - Friendships with other Gateway refugees were Progress was being made against indicators of integration, generally central to social networks. but married women with children were making least - Places of worship were the most frequently progress. Key issues for all groups were access to ESOL mentioned social link with the wider community. and employment and these areas will need further - Lead agency caseworkers were a pivotal source of facilitation. support. ●● Safety and stability were central to refugees’ Follow-up, perhaps at around five years (when citizenship satisfaction with their UK lives. Unfortunately, applications can be made), would provide a picture of between one-quarter and half of each group longer-term integration prospects, barriers and facilitators experienced either verbal or physical harassment. for Gateway groups. iii Research Report
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