Failing to Adapt: Institutional Barriers to RCOs Engagement in Transformation of Social Welfare

Abstract

Britain has entered a new era of super-diversity and many regions of the UK are experiencing the arrival of new communities. Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs) have developed following the arrival of new asylum seeking and refugee communities, and have been charged with the role of supporting the integration of these newcomers. However, there is much evidence to suggest that they are functioning only with individuals rather than working with institutions to transform systems and ensure welfare provision is adapted to account for diverse needs. This paper looks at the role of RCOs in attempting transformation and, using data collected through survey, interviews, and participatory action research, examines the extent to which RCOs are able to engage with the public and wider voluntary sector, to ensure that refugees' welfare needs can be met. It finds that in addition to the much-researched functional barriers to transformation, there are major institutional barriers to engagement. Institutions have failed to adapt their systems to enable representation of new communities instead expecting RCOs to build their own capacity to communicate. The paper ends by offering some ideas around resourcing RCOs to be represented and developing the capacity of institutions to adapt to new diversity.

Refugees, Acculturation Strategies, Stress and Integration

“…The lack of specialist services to aid settlement or deal with asylum and acculturation-related psychological stresses is a further problem, commonly noted in many regional dispersal cities (Murphy et al ., 2002; Watters, 2001). The paucity of resources available to support the development and maintenance of MRCOs as a tool of integration, outside of London, has been outlined elsewhere (Phillimore and Goodson, 2010). The absence of MRCOs or faith organisations able to provide opportunities for cultural maintenance and mutual support combine to impact on refugees’ well-being and ability to settle.…”

“…The New Labour Government set out its desire to make refugees ‘full and equal citizens’ (Home Office, 2002). They and others outlined the positive role of migrant and refugee community organisations (MRCOs) in aiding the integration process (Home Office, 2005; Phillimore and Goodson, 2010; Gameledin-Adhami et al ., 2002; Griffiths et al ., 2006). Some policy emphasis was placed upon seed-corn funding MRCOs to help them facilitate refugee integration through the provision of advocacy, support and opportunities to celebrate cultural identity.…”

Marginal Players? The Third Sector and Employability Services for Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the UK

“…On the more general topic of migration and civil society, recent literature has focused on the conceptualisation of which organisations might be included under the heading of Black and Asian Minorities Ethnic organisations (BAME), on discussing the presence of a distinctive sector (McCabe and Phillimore 2017 ) and exploring the reason behind the lack of development of these TSOs (Craig 2011 ; McCabe and Phillimore 2017 , Ware 2017 ). Third sector organisations which work with refugees have been defined as often small, local, volunteer run organisation which often fill gaps of public services (Phillimore and McCabe 2010 ). This is particularly true for asylum seekers and particularly refused one which can only access to third sector organisations to fill some of their needs (Mayblin and James 2019 ).…”

“…Literature has also discussed what was considered the poor levels of government support offered to refugee community organisations (Phillimore and Goodson 2010 ) and the impact of austerity on the BAME sector (Tilki et al 2015 ; Ware 2017 ). For example, researchers have explored that funding opportunities for non-profit organisations dealing with BAME communities and in particular asylum seekers and refugees have been reduced across time (Mayblin and James 2019 ) and few community organisations operating for these beneficiaries have been in a position to bid for contracts due to their low annual turnover (Ware 2017 ).…”

Protecting across borders

“…Moreover, if granted permission to work, they are restricted to jobs on the shortage occupation list -classical ballet dancers or nuclear medicine technologists were some of the jobs offered in 2003-which is a barrier to employment (ibid.). Moreover, asylum seekers willing to work often have 113qualifications from their home countries, which require additional and expensive conversion courses or recognition processes (Phillimore & Goodson, 2010).…”