Local integration strategies

Why we need local integration strategies

Local areas in Yorkshire and the Humber provide different experiences for asylum seekers and refugees, many of whom have not chosen the area, being placed there on a ‘no choice basis’. Local integration strategies are therefore essential for ensuring the integration of asylum seekers and refugees:

• Barnsley has produced its integration stragegy.
• Sheffield published its first integration strategy,'New Lives', in 2005 [to download a copy of this strategy, please go to Sheffield City Council website's Housing Strategies page]. Sheffield is writing its second strategy, to be published in mid 2010.
• Rotherham has produced a final draft of its integration strategy.
• Wakefield has begun its integration strategy.

Making the links between regional and local integration strategies

The Yorkshire and Humber Integration Network [YIN] provides the strategic link between regional and local integration strategies and planning. YIN is a bimonthly meeting attended by:

• the key people within each local authority area who have strategic responsibility for local refugee integration
• other key people with responsibility for refugee integration
• guest speakers
• the Refugee Integration Manager [chair]