REFUGEES IN BRISTOL

Overview

In the past most refugees and asylum seekers who arrived in this country decided to live in London. However in the last few years a growing number of refugees and asylum seekers have been settling in the South West and Midlands. Refugees living in Bristol have come from all over the world, specially, Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Zimbabwe), Asia (Iraq, Kurds, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India) and Europe (former Yugoslavia and Turkey).

Bristol has particularly attracted a large number of Somali refugee populations in recent years. According to the latest estimates there is an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Somalis in Bristol now (The Bright Project, 2006). It is noted that nearly 75% of all refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol are Somalis. This is clearly reflected by the large increase in the number of Somalis who are visible in places like Easton, Eastville, Montpelier, Fishponds, ST. Paul's, Lawrence Hill and Barton Hill.

There are number of reasons thought to have contributed to the settlement of Somalis and other refugee communities in Bristol area.

• Somali refugees, like most other refugee communities, prefer to settle in areas where there is a supportive network, relatives, friends, and refugee community organizations.
• It is also thought that many Somali refugees choose to settle Bristol due to the greater employment opportunities and housing provisions in the area.
• Bristol is popular because of the cultural diversity of Bristol as refugees and asylum seekers find people with the same language, religion, and/or culture with which they can identify.

Characteristics of Refugee Communities in Bristol

A number of studies on the social and economic characteristics of refugee communities in Bristol area have indicated a high level of deprivation and poverty among the refugees in the area . Among the key findings of various reports and studies are as follows:

Most refugees in Bristol describe themselves as unemployed and having difficulties entering the UK Labour market.

Female refugees of all ages are less likely than male refugees to hold qualifications, speak English and more likely to have family/childcare responsibilities, which prevent them from training.

Most refugees mention language barrier as their main problem when accessing to mainstream services.

A relatively high proportion of refugees living in Bristol are experiencing poor housing, homelessness, unemployment and poor access to healthcare.

The result of some studies have shown that there are within the refugee communities themselves some severely disadvantaged members who have no employment, no training, no English language, and are not currently in training. Proportions belonging to this group of extremely disadvantaged refugee community members are even higher among women those over 45 and more recently arrived.

• Poor socio-economic profile.
• Poor physical and mental health.
• Barriers to accessing health, housing, employment and other mainstream services etc. including language, lack of child-care, poor understanding of the system, qualifications not recognised.
• Large untapped and highly skilled refugees in the area.

Refugee Community Organisations

The numbers of refugee community organisations based in Bristol have increased in the past several years, as a result of the increased number of refugees, especially new arrivals who arrived more recently and who are still facing difficulties related to their recent experiences. This overview report is concerned with refugees in the context of community cohesion and would like to improve public sector workers' awareness of refugees in Bristol area and their needs.

There are many local refugee community organisations offering advice, free interpreting services, and assistance to members of their communities. Although Bristol City Council has offered office premises to some of these local refugee community organisations, they are by and large constrained by lack of funding to employ community workers even on a part-time basis still remains one of the main problems facing the development of local refugee organisations. As a result many local refugee groups are finding very difficult to continue supporting members of their communities.

Local refugee community groups based in Bristol, according to some studies have shown that:

• There are higher proportions of one-parent families, especially among refugees from Somalia.
• Majority of refugee communities living in Bristol have ELR (Exceptional Leave to Remain).
• The majority will have had a good level of secondary education in their own countries, and the proportion with post school qualifications is higher.
• Under-achievement among refugee children is high resulting in many young refugees, particularly, Somalis becoming involved in street crimes and anti-social behaviour.
  

It is believed that refugees face similar barriers and problems as other BME communities. However their situation is compounded by their experience both in the UK and before. In other words certain barriers are common among BME communities but some are specific to refugees. The problems that are specific to them originate from the physical or mental problems such as torture or other harsh conditions from which they have escaped. For example, refugees may have experienced harsh conditions during their journey to the UK including those who enter the UK illegally using human traffickers.

• Language barrier
• Lack of knowledge of how the system works
• Lack of awareness of their rights
• Lack of understanding and sympathy from some professionals on the specific needs of refugees
• Insufficient and properly understood information on available services
• Non-recognition of their qualification
• Stereotypes, prejudice and downright racism
• The impact of these barriers is very negative for refugees in Bristol in terms of accessing appropriate public services, particularly, in housing, health, social services and employment etc.