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Helping refugees to integrate into the UK is the focus of a new action plan that will be launched by Islington Council on 10 February at 12 noon. It is the first council to develop an action plan to help integration, which Council Leader, Cllr Steve Hitchins will launch at the Islington African Project (7 Elthorne Road, London N19 4AJ).
With one of the largest refugee population in London, Islington Council says it cannot ignore refugees' needs and is tackling poor housing, employment prospects, safety, education and health by developing better links with local businesses, community groups, the police and the voluntary sector.
Islington Council's action plan will help to boost employment opportunities for refugees by:
*Encouraging people to undertake training in areas they may not have previously considered or to start up their own businesses.
*Training people so they understand the culture of the UK's working environment.
*Helping employers to understand the potential advantages of employing refugees - many are bilingual.
*Helping people to improve their English language skills.
With the police, the council will help refugees to feel safer by:
* Preparing a directory of community groups where people can get help and advice about dealing with drug abuse or
domestic violence. Information about local services will also be distributed in local community groups and tea houses.
* Providing training to voluntary and community sector organisations so they can offer drugs and alcohol education programmes.
Measures the council will take to help improve the health of refugees involve:
*Carrying out a research into the refugee population's 'take up' of health services to identify if barriers exist.
* Working with the NHS to develop strategies to address gaps in the service provided to refugees.
* Working with community groups to educate refugees about getting access to the services they need.
The housing needs of refugees will be met by:
* Reviewing the housing assessment procedures and forms to see if they need to be updated to 'capture' the needs of
refugees.
* Introducing workshops where refugees can help to improve the quality of information.
* Identify good practice models used by other service providers and implement them.
Ends
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008