Conference roundup from our Bristol Rethinking Refugee Conference on 10th October 2016

1. Monday 10th
October 2016
Radisson Blu,
Bristol
#rethinkingrefugee
Conference Outcome Report

2. Introduction
F
ollowing a packed event of over 80 people at
our #rethinkingrefugee Conference in Bristol on
Monday 10th October 2016, a way ahead was
agreed on this urgent matter. We have already
started to take the next steps, but need your help
and support!
Speakers included Fuad Mahamed, Chief Executive
& Richard Thickpenny, Business Development
Manager from Ashley Community Housing, Professor
Monder Ram OBE, Centre for Research in Ethnic
Minority Entrepreneurship, University of Birmingham
Business School and a panel of experts including
Adam Powell (Director of Skills, West of England Local
Enterprise Partnership), Paul Jacobs (Service Director,
Education & Skills, Bristol City Council), and Cllr Paul
Smith (Cabinet Member for Homes & Communities,
Bristol City Council), Cllr Ruth Pickersgill (Chair,
Bristol Refugee Rights), chaired by David Jepson
(Consultant, Ashley Community Housing).
The event was opened by award winning local
writer Nathan Filer and his partner Emily Parker who
have themselves invested to become ACH landlords
and provide vital housing for refugees. Cllr Estella
Tincknell, Deputy Mayor of Bristol, wrapped up the
discussion and Mayor Marvin Rees sent a message of
support.
The following is a summary of the outcomes of the
discussions and the issues discussed on the day:
Refugees are an asset not liability
We face the most serious refugee crisis in the last
twenty years, with more people displaced since last
WW2. Too often we see the refugee issue as a burden
to society and at best humanitarian and charity
issue. A humanitarian response designed for the
short-term too often ends up administering long-term
misery. Rather than transitioning from emergency
relief to long-term reintegration, refugee populations
too often get trapped within the system. This benefits
nobody. The existing paradigm fails to adequately
recognise that refugees have talents, skills, and
aspirations. A rethink is urgently needed.
Housing
Housing problems faced by refugees reflect the
wider housing crisis in Bristol where we need to build
more properties and release investment as well as do
more to protect private sector tenants. We need to
project a positive image of the role of refugees and
here the media has an important role and we need
to ensure positive stories are presented.
ACH new perspective of refugee
resettlement and integration
Our aim is to explore some new perspectives
concerning integration and resettlement refugees
from our grassroots and community based approach
Key outcomes of the conference:
Setting priorities for action
Accommodation Support Work Skills
Enterprising
Skills
Move On
Five Stage Innovation Model
Resettlement Stage Integration Stage
“In Bristol we must see refugees as an asset,
not as a problem. We need to make the best
use of their skills and expertise. This is part of my
vision of a Bristol that works for all its residents,
not just the few. And this is why we need you,
the stakeholders here today, to come together
to make this happen.” Message from Marvin
Rees, Mayor of Bristol

3. and experience. Whilst human rights and safety
are of course paramount, we must give greater
priority to employment and economic development
opportunities if we are to offer a genuine integration
and better life to refugees and forced migrants
coming to UK. Early labour market integration for
refugees is the best method for refugee integration,
and this can be achieved through cultural sensitive
support, training and sector focused employment skills.
Rethinking refugees as entrepreneurs
Refugees too often have high entrepreneurship skills
and run successful businesses in their home countries.
We need to encourage them to start business and
remove any barriers. ACH is carrying out research
with Birmingham University studying what the drivers
and barriers to migrant and refugee businesses are.
Collective impact
When working with refugees the narrative can
be disheartening with the media controlling and
framing a very negative debate. Tight budgets and
funding shortfalls pitch refugee support organisations
against each other with the result refugees are rarely
considered other than to be disadvantaged and
economically burdensome. Meanwhile institutional
timidity sees Local Authorities and other agencies
freeze through a fear of moving out of their cultural
comfort zones compounded by a lack of concrete
data or well-directed policy debate.
We can change policy by collaborating to
aggregate the collective impact of all those
working with refugees in the city, agreeing a joint
approach to economic integration, driving an
agenda to bend available funding to achieve
positive change for refugees, and using our access
to news channels to show the positive impacts on
the local economy. Without a collective approach
the opportunities for social change will continue to
be missed and the mainstream will continue to fail
Bristol’s refugee community
Next steps
We are determined to make sure that this wasn’t just
a great conference. Actions speak louder than words
and the following actions came out of the event:
The current Bristol City Council administration is
placing a very strong emphasis on Bristol being a
city for all and where no one will be left behind. Hate
crime and direct discrimination will not be tolerated
and should be reported.
More positive stories and images of refugees are
needed in the media and we should all take steps to
make sure such stories are submitted
We need to have a better understanding of
the context for supporting refugees in relation
to employment and economic opportunity, and
a mapping /needs assessment exercise within
the West of England is needed to provide a
framework for future action. ACH will elaborate a
proposal for this.
Dialogue is needed with Bristol City Council to
fine tune the mechanisms by which it prioritises and
allocates funding to community and voluntary sector
organisations to make sure that needs are met most
effectively. We will take this forward with officers and
members from Bristol City Council.
To support work being undertaken by the LEP
on minority businesses, a focus group has already
been organized by ACH and the research team for
October 27th. This focus group leads into a wider
event with businesses and the LEP and its partners
on the 14th of December to discuss the results of
the research and work together on building a plan
going forward. Further work is needed to ensure that
refugee entrepreneurs receive the specific help and
support needed.
We need to identify more properties to offer
housing for refugees and we will work with Bristol City
Council and other stakeholders to bring this forward
and integrate provision into new development.
We are aware that other countries offer examples
of international good practice in integrating refugees,
including the Netherlands, Sweden and Canada. In
the context of Brexit we need to ensure we continue
to keep our networks open to new thinking.
We will be making the Rethinking Refugee
Conference an annual event. We can also organize
mini Rethinking Refugee events in localities and
communities of interest as needed. You can join
in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag:
#rethinkingrefugee
“I myself came to the UK 20 years ago
as a refugee. I am determined to make
sure that we see refugees as an asset and
not a liability and we have made good
progress. But we can achieve so much more
with the commitment and support of all
stakeholders.” Fuad Mahamed, CEO, Ashley
Community Housing

4. “Thank you Ashley Housing for an inspirational & encouraging evening.
#rethinkingrefugee is a MUST!” Josh Jones.
“Interesting conference this evening by Ashley Housing. Excellent discussion on
promoting the benefits of #refugees #rethinkingrefugee.” Citizens Advice Bristol.
“A pleasure to attend the #rethinkingrefugee workshop
organised by Ashley Housing. Action needed to ensure refugees
are assets for our city.” Estella Tincknell, Deputy Mayor of Bristol.
“Thanks for a great #rethinkingrefugee conference Ashley Housing. Lots of food for
thought! Fab to see positivity towards refugees in Bristol.” Superact UK.
“Though it was great” – taken from anonymous feedback form.
“Thought provoking insights from partners on hidden economic impact of migrant
entrepreneurs at Ashley Housing #rethinkingrefugee conference.” Adam Powell,
Director of Skills, West of England LEP.
“At the #rethinkingrefugee conference run by Ashley Housing
with the team from Borderlands, pretty great, positive ideas.”
Steve Owen, Borderlands.
“Incredibly informative #rethinkingrefugee conference from Ashley Housing tonight.
Thanks for the invite!” Borderlands.
“Excellent #rethinkingrefugee conference Ashley Housing. Time to change the
narrative in refugees and asylum seekers.” Councillor Asher Craig, St George West
Ward, Bristol City Council.
“Interesting and informative conference by Ashley Housing, learning about refugee
resettlement and discussing #rethinkingrefugee. Thank you!” Bristol City of Sanctuary.
Ashley Community Housing, Unit 20, Easton Business Centre, Felix Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 0HE
0117 954 0433 • info@ashleyhousing.com • www.ashleyhousing.com
What others said about the conference
What do you say? Please let us know your views and how you might engage with our
work to ensure far better integration of refugees within our city and region.
Keep the conversation going and talk to us: info@ashleyhousing.com