Can Community-Based Social Protection Interventions Improve the Wellbeing of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the United Kingdom? A Systematic Qualitative Meta-Aggregation Review

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals 2030 call for an end to poverty in all its forms everywhere through the adoption of integrated social protection policies. However, recent literature suggests an implicit and explicit discrimination towards asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs) in United Kingdom social policy, leading to high rates of destitution, poor health and isolation. Due to the limited nature of UK government support, many ASRs become involved with semi-formal and informal social protection. This systematic literature review synthesizes existing qualitative literature that documents the impact of these interventions on the wellbeing of adult ASRs in the United Kingdom. The literature offers useful insights into asylum seeker and refugee perceptions of wellbeing, agency, and support responsibility, and how their interaction with social protection providers constrains or enables the realization of their fundamental human needs. The findings demonstrate that government support is inadequate to meet the needs of many asylum seekers and refugees, leading to disempowerment, lack of agency and exploitation. Positive wellbeing outcomes are linked to semi-formal and informal interventions, summarized into six categories: the positive impact of volunteering; physical space and intentional gathering; practical and material support; training and skills development; solidarity, inclusion and understanding; and peer support and advice.

Living a frozen life: a qualitative study on asylum seekers’ experiences and care practices at accommodation centers in Sweden

“…He calls this adversity-activated development. There are also studies advocating peer support as a crucial lifeline for asylum seekers and as essential in improving their wellbeing [ 53 ]. Furthermore, this finding highlights the importance of identifying not only the challenges asylum seekers face but also their collective and individual strengths and abilities, along with the caregiving structures within the actual community to promote wellbeing in a sustainable and empowering way.…”

Human-Centred Design in UK Asylum Social Protection

“…Though poor housing is not unique to the asylum population, the high percentage of trauma in this group, and the constant fear of deportation that is inherent to the asylum process increases their chances of suffering from "'hypervigilance', meaning an intense and exaggerated sense of danger, and a heightened response to external stimuli such as noise and movements" (Chaplin 2019). Couple this with enforced isolation through both the asylum journey and dispersal upon arrival, the potential for stigmatisation and racist abuse, a lack of funds to engage in social connections, and enforced inactivity due to the illegality of work (James 2021), and access to a safe, clean and private space becomes critical for the protection of emotional, social and physical wellbeing. Dispersal in itself is also particularly jarring for individuals dealing with the effects of trauma who are made to move away from formal or informal support networks that they have established in their initial location (Dumper 2002;Human Rights Watch 2010).…”

“…It also acts as a form of 'autonomy harm' (Canning 2017, p. 76) resulting from role deprivation and enforced incapacitation that can lead to a loss of self-worth, physical and mental decline (Quintero et al 2014). Many asylum seekers indicate that they had no idea they would not be able to work to support themselves while claiming asylum in the UK (James 2021) and this restriction, coupled with long application wait times has led some to feel they are living in limbo for years at a time (Cortvriend 2020). Though not technically a form of social protection, illegalisation of employment acts to inhibit individual's from protecting themselves and preventing deprivation by making them reliant on meagre government financial disbursements and poor-quality housing.…”

“…"If these organisations weren't there, I may have died because the government doesn't give you any support and we are not allowed to work in this country and we don't have a place to stay" [Gibrel]. (Cuthill et al 2013, p. 12) Informal social protection derived through relationships with peers, friends and family is also hugely important (James 2021). Though the scale and diversity of informal support is difficult to quantify, it can range from international financial remittances between extended family to meals, floors to sleep on, and peer advice on accessing semi-formal and formal welfare assistance. "…”

“…Other less formal mechanisms of protection, such as family, peer-based or community interventions are often overlooked. Yet, literature indicates there is a complex web of semi-and informal social protection supporting those living in poverty to improve their wellbeing and manage daily risks (For examples see Clark 1999;Awortwi and Walter-Drop 2017;Papadopoulos and Roumpakis 2017;Mayblin and James 2019;James 2021).…”