What is Integrate?
Integrate is an organisation which works with asylum seeking children, families and adults at an Initial Accommodation Centre in Wakefield.
We want every person seeking asylum in Yorkshire to know that they are welcome in the UK. We want to see them developing strong relationships with other people seeking asylum and local British people and breaking down the barriers against integration. We want those living in initial accommodation centres to enjoy their time there, access the services that are available to them, and grow in confidence so that they can offer more to the UK when the time is right.
We seek to:
- improve the transition experiences and emotional wellbeing of children, families and adults seeking asylum
- provide opportunities for them to develop relationships with other people nearby
- offer opportunities for all involved to learn new skills and knowledge
- provide spaces where people can share their culture and heritage
- encourage and empower people involved in the project through volunteering opportunities
- develop community links
- increase the awareness of the local community regarding the issues faced by asylum seekers and refugees.
What is an asylum seeker and what is an Initial Accommodation Centre?
An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their own country because they are being persecuted and has arrived in another country, lodged an asylum claim with the correct authority and is awaiting a decision on that claim. As a signatory of the Geneva Convention (1951), the United Kingdom has a legal obligation to consider all applications for asylum. Under this convention anyone has the right to ask for sanctuary in another country if they are suffering persecution in their own.
Many people seeking asylum leave everything they have – homes, jobs, friends, even their family. Sometimes children arrive without their parents or anyone to look after them. The majority of asylum seekers actually go to neighbouring countries, many of which do not have the systems or infrastructure to cope. Those who end up in the UK actually account for less than 2% of the world’s asylum seekers.
When someone seeking asylum declares themselves to the authorities, they are sent to one of the Home Office’s Initial Accommodation Centres. They will stay there for 2-3 weeks whilst their claims are processed, they go through medical examinations and they apply for housing and benefits. No one seeking asylum is allowed to work until they are given refugee status (i.e their claims are found to be valid. Usually they are allowed to stay for up to 5 years).
How does Integrate fit into all this?
Integrate is nothing to do with the asylum process. We have no bearing on the outcome of cases and are not involved in the decisions in any way.
Integrate was founded as a response to God’s love. On this basis we want to show love, respect and acceptance to people of all beliefs, nationalities and traditions.
Integrate welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds and the expectation is that all members of Integrate will have an understanding of the Christian ethos of the project and maintain love, respect and acceptance to all people we work with.
For more information about what Integrate does, see the Projects page or the posts.
For more information about asylum and migration, follow these links:
The Truth About Asylum – breaking down the myths
The Refugee Awareness Project – more facts and figures about the realities of asylum
