Cross-cutting themes

Table of contents

Voluntary and community sector

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Despite the ever-changing asylum and immigration legal and policy environment, refugee integration has historically been regarded a matter for local areas. Although guidance and strategic direction have been sporadically provided by central government, it has long been the case that the work of integration has been led by local government, local public services, and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). Whether supported through resettlement funding, local and central government funding streams or contracts, charitable trusts, other funding sources, or simply through the sheer passion and commitment of individuals and communities, the VCS has played a central role in refugee integration. 

However, due to the changing nature of refugee resettlement and the asylum system, much of the funding accessed by the VCS in the region is short term, leading to a cycle of time-limited projects. Within this environment, organisations often struggle to retain the expertise that they develop and face significant constraints on their capacity to deliver much-needed services. This is particularly the case with smaller groups and organisations who lack the capacity for effective fundraising. Overall, refugee VCS organisations generally compete for the same ever-shrinking funding streams, although recent resettlement funding has provided a boost in many areas. 

Despite funding limitations, the refugee VCS in Yorkshire and Humber is a vibrant and diverse community of organisations and individuals who are deeply committed to welcoming and supporting refugees on their integration journeys. It has developed services and projects that are best practice in their fields, and have added value to integration through volunteering, donations, and other assets. 

The VCS plays a key role in the integration of refugees and asylum seekers by:

  • Providing a warm welcome and friendly support
  • Helping people navigate complex UK systems
  • Providing specialist services
  • Advocating for individuals and groups
  • Campaigning for refugee rights and better services
  • Providing safe spaces where refugees can meet others
  • Recruiting staff and volunteers with lived experience of forced migration
  • Providing emergency relief to destitute individuals
  • Celebrating the contributions of refugees to the region

Our consultation evidenced the strong partnership between VCS organisations in the region, but there is room to develop better connections and information-sharing between them. This would enable more dissemination of innovation and good practice and benefit smaller organisations in areas where the refugee VCS is less developed. There’s also the need to increase engagement between the VCS and some public services and businesses. 

Finally, a strong refugee VCS needs strong Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs) led by refugees for refugees. To a large extent, the integration journey ‘ends’ with independence, empowerment, and self-sufficiency, and RCOs play a significant part in that journey. Refugees need to feel confident to express views and articulate their own needs. RCOs offer refugees the space to mobilise and organise, celebrate and represent their cultures, and engage effectively with services and other stakeholders. Yorkshire and Humber is home to many RCOs and organisations supporting them, but more needs to be done to enable them to expand the unique contributions that they make to the integration process. 

The challenges, of course, are always consolidation, how to maintain what we are doing.  Funding is a big thing because all the funding is short-term only, and, after 2020, I need to see how are we going to keep our door open

Integration Works: The Role of Organisations in Refugee Integration in Yorkshire and the Humber - Philip Brown, Claire Walkey and Philip Martin, University of Huddersfield, 2020, p.43

Voluntary and community sector priorities

  • The refugee voluntary and community sector in Yorkshire and Humber has access to sustainable funding that enables it to develop and retain knowledge and expertise in refugee integration
  • Key stakeholders in the public and private sectors are aware of the strengths of the refugee VCS, and engage effectively with the sector
  • All relevant localities in the region have vibrant, well-funded refugee voluntary and community groups and organisations
  • Yorkshire and Humber have strong and empowered Refugee Community Organisations that effectively represent refugee communities
  • The region's VCS provides meaningful volunteering opportunities for refugees, asylum seekers, and people from other backgrounds who want to contribute to integration
Last updated: 4th January 2023