Report of listening events in West Midlands [April 2007] and Yorkshire & Humber [July 2007]

Aims

The report is part of the Older Refugees Programme that aimed to encourage the development of appropriate services and policies to address the needs of older refugees and asylum seekers.

Methodology

The report focuses on two listening events [West Midland and Yorkshire and Humberside] that brought together local and regional refugee community organisations with policy makers. The Yorkshire and Humber event was attended by approximately 40 participants.

Key issues

The report provides proceedings from the presentations, workshop discussions, responses from listening services providers, and an evaluation summary. The Yorkshire and Humber event included workshops on health and social care; housing and family / community networks; and education and employment, legal issues and advice. The issues discussed focus on the particular experiences of older refugees including isolation, nutritional needs, intergenerational problems, mobility, overcrowding, access to English classes, and barriers to employment.

Conclusions

The conclusions are drawn together from the two listening events and one in London around health and wellbeing, housing, education and training, legal issues and advice, and family and community networks. Services are rarely tailored to the specific needs of older refugees.