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Easter service changes

During the Easter period, some of our services will be operating slightly different hours. Our council’s bin collection schedule will change for one week starting on Friday 29 March to make sure everyone’s waste is picked up around the bank holiday.

See the full schedule and your amended rubbish and recycling collection dates and other service changes including parking and library opening times over the Easter period.

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Refugee resettlement

As a place of sanctuary and welcome with a long history of supporting refugee communities to thrive, Islington is proud to directly participate in refugee resettlement schemes and help residents who also make their homes available for this humanitarian response.

At present, the following government resettlement schemes are in operation:

Islington Council’s response

The council undertakes work to resettle vulnerable people displaced by conflict, and we are grateful for the support provided by our residents who are also working hard to make Islington a place of safety for refugees and migrants. Our work has evolved over time as conditions change and new resettlement routes are created:

  • 2015: Resettlement of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) who fled the Syrian Civil War and other conflicts began. 
  • 2016: The council joined the Vulnerable Persons/Children Resettlement Schemes, launched with the aim of resettling 20,000 Syrians and 3,000 at-risk children across the whole UK by 2020. We also began providing oversight and approval to community sponsorship groups in the borough. 
  • 2020: The various refugee resettlement pathways were consolidated into a UK Resettlement Scheme open to anyone in need of protection identified by UNHCR.
  • 2021: As part of the evacuation of Afghans following the withdrawal of coalition forces, Islington began welcoming individuals and families through various pathways. We have a dedicated resettlement team continuing to help people find sanctuary and rebuild their lives here in the borough. 
  • 2021: Increases in the backlog of asylum applications meant that special contingency hotels were commissioned to accommodate people awaiting a decision on their claim. Along with supporting those in the hotels, we help newly-granted refugees with move-on support once they leave the hotel 
  • 2022: Following the invasion of Ukraine, we have supported local residents who have offered their homes and rooms to Ukrainians. 

This work is on-top of statutory duties to support refugees and migrants in borough, for example people with no recourse to public funds

Through this collective endeavour, hundreds of people have been supported to overcome past trauma and start new lives, thereby contributing to making Islington a thriving, more equal borough. Looking to the future, we have also made the following commitments:

  • further properties are being purchased using GLA buy-back funding
  • continued oversight and approval of community sponsorship groups in the borough
  • future participation in new resettlement schemes as part of our Borough of Sanctuary work
  • support international and domestic humanitarian efforts to the greatest extent possible.

Islington resettlement model

The key components of refugee resettlement in Islington are:

  • all properties procured for refugee resettlement must be in Islington
  • intensive integration support is delivered in partnership with health, education and employment services, as well as with support of the Voluntary and Community Sector
  • empowerment through employment and self-sufficiency is central to long-term resettlement
  • participation in resettlement must enhance the council’s support offer to other disadvantaged residents and help make Islington a more equal place. 

What does successful resettlement/integration look like in Islington?

Resettlement is not a straightforward process for our refugee residents, who arrive from a diverse set of difficult circumstances and have the overwhelming task of starting a new life in a foreign country. The aim of Islington’s resettlement model is to support individuals and families in achieving their full abilities to have fulfilled lives, become self-sufficient and contribute to the community Islington has built. Resettlement can take years, and our team is mindful that the set of needs, goals and challenges each person faces will be varied.

 

Islington takes a person-centred approach to support individuals and families in rebuilding their lives after arriving in the UK via Home Office resettlement routes. This is done by assigning families their own caseworker to help set and achieve agreed goals. Furthermore, Islington is committed to developing strategic partnerships with existing local authority and health services, as well as volunteer and community sector organisations, to support the needs of refugees and contribute to the overall improvement of these services.

What is the process of resettlement in Islington?

We ensure support for new arrivals by:   

  • securing accommodation within the borough, ensuring housing is to a set standard and ready to move into  
  • assigning caseworkers to support each family with accessing the essentials of living in the UK, such as attaining ID, bank accounts, entitled benefits for income and essential health service registrations 
  • caseworkers helping individuals and families make sense of their responsibilities and entitlements with managing income and finances in the UK, e.g. setting up and paying rent, bills, council tax and other essential expenses  
  • registering children at local school and nurseries, supporting families to access all education essentials and meeting with school staff for an immediate and effective start  
  • supporting adults and children aged 16-18 to enrol into ESOL classes at local colleges or Islington Adult Community Learning, suited to their existing levels and tailored towards gaining a qualifications  
  • assessing work-readiness upon arrival and supporting access to employment or training  
  • ensuring adults or children with support needs, seek the right health and social care support to manage this effectively. 

Over time, caseworkers work with individuals and families to make sense of how they can regain their sense of self and belonging in Islington and make the most of the opportunities presented here. This can include: 

  • supporting people to make sense of how they can contribute to the UK as Islington residents, for example through linking them with local voluntary or community organisations
  • supporting access to desired training and qualifications to meet their long-term employment goals, in line with tailored support for improving English  
  • supporting individuals and families’ understanding of laws, systems and procedures so they understand their entitlements to statutory services and know how to access support, if needed  
  • supporting access to adequate primary and secondary healthcare for both physical and mental health concerns that may arise  
  • helping people to understand the leisure activities, events and programmes on offer for Islington residents and families. 

To find out more, please email Resettlement@islington.gov.uk

To learn how you can help, please see our dedicated page.

If you are worried about your immigration status, find out more information

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