Background
Asylum seekers face barriers to participating in society that include poor English language skills, a lack of knowledge about the UK welfare system, discrimination, no right to work, and isolation from their peer groups. For some, there is the combined stigma of asylum immigration status and being HIV+. Recent months have seen significant changes in national policy that will affect the support arrangements for asylum seekers in the UK. These changes may have a negative impact on the individual lives of some asylum seekers.
North London Aspire DP (NLADP) is a partnership of the Uganda Community Relief Association (UCRA) - which is the lead partner, Haringey Council, the College of North East London (CoNEL), London North Learning Skills Council, North London Partnership Consortium and Positive Care Link. It is diverse in its makeup and includes organisations that have a long history of working with some of the most excluded communities in London.
Aims
The aims of the North London Aspire DP are to develop new services to address the negative impact of the asylum-seeking process upon people's lives by empowering asylum seekers to contribute to their host community and reducing the negative effects of the asylum process, regardless of whether an individual’s application is successful or not.
Action two objectives
Equip asylum seekers with language, IT and multimedia, and leadership/entrepreneurship skills that will assist them either with integration if granted refugee status, or will be of value to them in their next country.
Provide asylum seekers with access to a broad range of information, advice and guidance, including support for those living with HIV/AIDS.
Provide asylum seekers with support, training, and opportunities, to make a contribution to the host community, and to retain their skills.
Ensure that asylum seekers have the opportunity to socialise among their peers, and with members of the host communities.
- Promote and support research and data collection activities on the needs, problems and outcomes of asylum seekers.
Target groups NLADP has developed and delivered innovative services to support asylum seekers in the North London Boroughs of Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, and Waltham Forest.
