F35: Local Communities Welcoming Refugees

Conference notes:

1. The refugee crisis over the summer including refugees from Syria but also from other countries; the publication of a House of Lords report on unaccompanied migrant children in July 2016 and the visit by a delegation of senior local government figures to the Calais jungle migrant camp in August 2016.
2. That 88,245 unaccompanied migrant children applied for asylum in 2015.
3. That there are an estimated 10,000 missing unaccompanied migrant children in the EU.

Conference believes:

1. The UK must welcome its fair share of refugees to ease this crisis including unaccompanied refugee children.
2. That Government should make additional funding available to local authorities to help with this and to build capacity.
3. That refugees contribute a huge amount to local communities throughout the UK.

Conference calls for:

1. National co-ordination which is essential to share intelligence around foster care capacity across the country.
2. Central government to work closely with local government to ensure councils have the funding and support they need to help refugees.
3. UK and French governments to work together to ensure that unaccompanied children are reunited with their families or otherwise given long-term security including access to education.
4. Councils to support measures such as the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (SVPRS) and request that Syrian refugees are encouraged to settle in their area.
5. Suitable housing to be made available to refugees in need.
6. Councils to provide a contact point for newly arrived refugees to register their skills and qualifications and given assistance to find work.
7. Improved provision for English language teaching for those who need it.

Applicability: Federal.