The Gateway Protection Programme
The Gateway Protection Programme is the UK's Refugee Resettlement project funded by the Home Office to address the needs of some of the world's most vulnerable refugees. International organisations such as the UNHCR, responsible for the initial selection of refugees, work in close collaboration with the Home Office, voluntary sector agencies, the International Rescue Committee and the British Red Cross. These partnerships provide specialist support to the refugees coming to the UK in order to meet the needs of these vulnerable individuals and aid their integration into the community.
Although the UK already operates two informal resettlement programmes, Gateway Protection is the largest scheme of this kind and it is hoped that up to 500 refugees will be received every year through the programme.
Migrant Helpline provides advice and support during the Reception and Orientation phase of the programme. Clients are greeted at the airport and transferred to a local hotel where they receive briefings and advice sessions to prepare them for life in their resettlement area.
Since the introduction of the programme in March 2003 the UK has offered protection to groups of refugees from Liberia, Sudan, Burma and the Congo. A growing number of towns across the country have taken part in the resettlement programme hosting refugees who are integrated into the local community. These include Bolton, Bury, Sheffield and Rochdale.
Migrant Helpline has recently been working in close partnership with Brighton and Hove City Council to bring the Gateway scheme to the city of Brighton. The local authority has welcome around 80 individuals from Ethiopia during 2006/07 who have been sucessfully integrated over the course of the year, eventually becoming self-sustaining, valued members of the community.
The Charity employs a Community Development Co-ordinator along with 3 caseworkers who are responsible for providing outreach services to the refugees during their first year in the city. This initially involves welcoming the new arrivals to the area, familiarising them with their new accommodation and helping them to enrol at school / training. Over the first quarter, services are extended to drawing up a personalised support plan for each refugee, ensuring that they feel supported in their new area and encouraging them to become independent in the community. Finally during the remaining part of the year, staff run local drop-in services, review the support plan to assess its long-term benefits and encourage peer support.
The role of the Community Development Co-ordinator is key to encouraging a multi-agency approach to refugee integration. Migrant Helpline has extensive experience of assisting refugees in Brighton having run One Stop Services there for several years, and has built up comprehensive knowledge of the voluntary and statutory services that have played a part in helping the refugees to settle. Education, adult education, health and housing services work with Migrant Helpline alongside the Job Centre Plus, refugee community organisations, the local media and the Home Office as stakeholders in the programme.
The Local Authority in Brighton has provided accommodation rented from the private sector. The Council's schools department organise an intensive induction programme for children including support from language specialists. Employment is sought with assistance from JobCentre Plus and the EU's Equal employment scheme.
The commencement of the Gateway Protection Programme in Brighton marked the scheme's introduction in the South of England. It is hoped that this will serve to encourage other Local Authorities to take part in the programme, demonstrating the richness of diversity that resettlement can bring to the community.
Annie Ledger, Migrant Helpline's Chief Executive comments: "Our experience with previous groups has shown that people are eager to integrate into their new communities and relieved to find a place of safety and stability for their families".
Migrant Helpline in association with Brighton and Hove City Council have produced a comprehensive guide to public services in the Brighton for those who are new to the area. The guide can be used as a reference tool to help such people access the various services available to them locally. The booklet was created in order to coincide with the launch of GPP in Brighton and Hove.
You can download a copy of Welcome to Brighton & Hove: A Guide to Public Services by clicking on the link below:
01304 203977
