Cross-cutting themes
Table of contents
Information and data
Information about refugees and asylum seekers in Yorkshire and Humber is patchy. A range of publicly available statistics of this population group are available, but of limited use. Because of the different schemes and programmes that exist, statistics are usually specific to certain groups within the refugee and asylum seeker population and are normally limited to overall numbers of dispersed asylum seekers or resettled refugees at local authority level. The region has developed unique sets of data and information resources over the years. However, developing the skills that stakeholders require to make effective use of such information remains a challenge.
Local authorities (and, on occasion, commissioned services) have access to more detailed information, particularly within the context of refugee resettlement schemes. However, beyond resettlement and, to a smaller extent, asylum dispersal and UASC, there are no data sources that provide reliable information about the region’s refugee population as a whole. More specifically, survey data that also covers refugees who have been granted asylum in the UK, particularly those who have obtained settlement status and/or British citizenship, are rare, and most of it is restricted to labour market data.
To compound this problem, outside refugee resettlement schemes, there is effectively no consistent and robust data about refugee integration that regional and local stakeholders can access at any particular time. On the other hand, providers (including the Voluntary and Community Sector) are constantly collecting administrative data about refugees and asylum seekers who access their services, although there is a lack of consistency in the way that this information is collected and shared. The fact is, without robust data on refugee integration, it is very difficult to measure the impact of services, projects, and interventions.
A significant amount of high-quality research into refugee integration has been carried out in Yorkshire and Humber in recent years. Much of this research is qualitative in nature, but, when effectively disseminated and used, it can help stakeholders monitor and improve their services. More independent evaluation research is also needed to identify (and disseminate) impacts of services and good practice.
I think sometimes the biggest way that we learn is just to take a step back and review what's working. We tend to evaluate a project every six months, so to go back to the drawing board and think, actually, yes, maybe this isn't really working, we can do this better
The region is currently developing effective collaborations between researchers and linking them with practitioners to increase the impact of research on services and organisations. There is also emerging good practice in Yorkshire and Humber in training and employing researchers who have lived experience of forced migration.
Many stakeholders identified the collection, use and sharing of data and information as a major priority for the region. For this to happen, more collaboration between stakeholders is needed, as well as robust protocols for sharing such information, and a degree of regional coordination of this work.
Research output also needs to be available in more accessible forms that most stakeholders can use in their roles, including research briefings, toolkits, good practice guides, and other formats. Stakeholders also need training, guidance, and resources to monitor and evaluate the impact of services that they provide.
Information and data priorities
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Services and organisations in Yorkshire and Humber have access to, and are able to use effectively, information and data resources about refugees and asylum seekers
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Services and organisations collect, store and share data and information on refugee integration in consistent, effective and robust ways where relevant, compliant with data protection legislation
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There is regular engagement and collaboration between the research community and other stakeholders in the region, identifying priority information gaps and fostering effective dissemination of research output
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Refugee communities are involved in the production of data, research and information about integration
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The impact of services and interventions on refugee integration are regularly monitored and evaluated by providers and independent researchers