Forum Bulletin - Winter 2023
Meet the Forum
Each quarter we will introduce you to some of our Forum members. Click on the links below to watch a 2-minute video on Vimeo to 'meet the Forum'. (To watch with subtitles, click the CC button to the right of the play bar):
Refugee integration news
Each quarter we’ll round up some key news stories and reports related to refugee integration. If you’d like more regular updates on refugee integration and other areas of migration, check out our weekly policy bulletin.
- A report found less than half of black Britons feel proud to be British. The study by the Black British Voices Project (BBVP) analysed the impact of racial discrimination on identity, education and the justice system and describes a ‘chronic level of racial disparities.’ (Source: the Guardian, BBVP)
- A recent survey showed that the majority of British adults have little knowledge of Black British History. The Nigerian-born children’s author Atinuke has called for the government to include more integration of Black British history in the education system. (Source: the Guardian)
- More than half of people in the UK think politicians are using so-called ‘culture wars’ to distract from other issues, according to a new survey. 62% of those polled thought politicians ‘invent or exaggerate’ culture wars as a political tactic, up from less than 44% three years ago. (Source: Kings College London)
- New research from King’s College London aims to inform policy through better understanding the role of ‘place’ in refugee mental health. (Source: King’s College London)
- Hate crime statistics show a 5% decrease in the year ending March 2023. This is the first decrease for a decade, though racially motivated hate crime still represents 70% of the total incidents. (Source: Home Office)
- It's important to take care of yourself when there is so much difficult news in the world and in the migration sector. This article explores ‘compassion fatigue’ and provides helpful steps we can all take. (Source: The Conversation)
- Congratulations to The University of Sheffield on becoming a ‘University of Sanctuary’. (Source: University of Sheffield). Also, North Yorkshire libraries have been granted Libraries of Sanctuary status for providing a safe space for asylum seekers and refugees. (Source: The Scarborough News)
- A new oral history project, ‘Look Back to Look Forward’, explores the experiences of Irish exiles in Great Britain over the past 50 years. The exhibition is online from 1 November having toured nationally. (Source: the Guardian)
- A Faith Museum, the first of its kind in Britain, has recently opened with around 300 objects and hopes to challenge assumptions about religion, suggesting that faith is about people, connectivity and community. (Source: The Conversation)
- This article looks at the challenges faced by young people seeking asylum and refugees in accessing college education and courses, including the high demand for ESOL courses, lack of funding, and personal traumas. (Source: FE Week)
- ‘Mother Tongue Other Tongue’ is an anthology of poems written by children and young people in Leeds. The young poets could write in a language they already speak or have a go at writing in a language they are learning. (Source: Storyblok)
- We were very sad to hear the news that Benjamin Zephaniah has died after a short illness. His poems often covered issues affecting refugees and multiculturalism in Britain; here are just a few for you to enjoy. (Source: the Guardian)