About IRIS

The Islington Refugee Integration Service (IRIS) was set up in 2004. IRIS is a small council team that works in partnership in a joint, strategically-led way to assist refugee integration in Islington. 

Refugee

The UN defines a refugee as “a person owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country”.

The term is usually limited to a person who has been granted asylum and has obtained permission to remain in the UK.

IRIS takes the term to mean persons who are in the asylum process, or have been granted refugee status or leave to remain in the past. It includes people who live, work or are in education in the borough. 

Integration

By 'integration', IRIS means the process that takes place when refugees are empowered to achieve their full potential, enabled to contribute fully, and to exercise rights and responsibilities that they share with other residents. 

The work of IRIS is especially needed in Islington because over the past ten years the borough had the third largest asylum population in London. Many of those asylum seekers have now been granted some form of ‘Leave To Remain’ in the UK, choosing to stay in Islington. 

Mapping Research commissioned by IRIS in 2005 estimates that 5-10% of the Islington population consists of first generation refugees. These refugees represent a huge potential asset for Islington communities in terms of personal and work contributions, and they bring with them a rich diversity of talent. 

Most importantly they have the right to equal access to services. Refugees can have trouble accessing services for many reasons, such as their lack of knowledge about the UK system or because of their level of English.

IRIS is part of the council’s ‘One Islington’ initiative, a vision of a diverse community that values all its members and promotes opportunity for all. To help achieve this for refugees, the council set up the Refugee Strategic Planning Board (RSPB), inviting senior officials from organisations such as the Primary Care Trust, the Police and the Islington Refugee Forum to work together on issues.

The work of the Board has guided IRIS in the formation of the Islington Refugee Integration Strategy (2005-2008), and the production of the Mapping Research on Refugees in the Borough of Islington. Guidance has also been given in the development and inclusion in projects such as the Refugee Services Directory, the Refugee Crisis Intervention Service and Refugee Week.

The IRIS team is always keen to link their work and strategies into existing and developing strategies and projects. Please contact IRIS if you think that you can help using the link to the left of this page.