InfoIslington - Islington Reference Library

Islington Refugee Integration Strategy

The Refugee Integration Strategy was produced to enable the Council and its key strategic partners, such as the Police and the Primary Care Trust, to take a co-ordinated and strategic approach to the integration of refugees in Islington and the better planning of relevant services.

The Strategy aims to set the strategic framework for refugee integration in Islington, and is supported by Refugee Action Plans across all the key areas of refugee integration. 

The Refugee Strategic Planning Board (RSPB) has overseen the production of this strategy and now, along with the Action Plan Focus Groups, will oversee the progress of the actions outlined with the Strategy. 

The Refugee Integration Strategy recognises the valuable work carried out by the voluntary and community sector in supporting the integration of refugees in Islington.  The action plans also demonstrate the evidence of private sector contributions to refugee integration especially in the employment, education, health and housing sectors.

Access to Primary Health Care for Refugees and Migrants

A new guide to support access to primary health care for refugees and migrants.

This booklet, How can I get medical help in London?, provides an easy to follow guide to accessing primary health care in the capital. The booklet takes the user through the steps they need to take in order to access primary health care. It

• sets out the information needed to register with a GP and how to get treatment in an emergency.
• is useful for healthcare professionals who commission primary care service and set local public health priorities.
• seeks to enable primary healthcare providers to deliver their services more effectively.

The booklet was first published in January 2012 and updated in March 2012 and is a vailable in English and 19 other languages.

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

No recourse to public funds (NRPF) refers to destitute people from abroad who are subject to immigration control and have no entitlement to welfare benefits, Home Office support for asylum seekers or public housing.

All local authorities in the UK have a duty to advise people who have NRPF on their personal circumstances and to assist them in finding a solution to their destitution. In limited circumstances, councils can provide care services including accommodation and financial support.

Islington Council has developed a specialist team working with destitute people from abroad who have NRPF and are ordinarily resident in Islington. The NRPF Team works in partnership with children's social services and the community care and mental health teams in Islington. In addition, it works with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) and other outreach and specialist services. Contact can be made through these services or directly with the NRPF Team.

A Survey of Refugees Living in London

A report commissioned by the GLA and produced by MORI in September 2010 from interviews with 1,007 refugees.

ESOL+

Islington has been awarded funding from the European Refugee Fund (ERF) for a project called ESOL+. The Project will be delivered in partnership with four local community organisations and is designed to help refugees in Islington work towards integration and citizenship by providing free-targeted ESOL classes and additional support tailored to individual needs. Support could include information advice and guidance, IT and computer skills, practical help with everyday tasks, vocational skills learning, or a mentoring programme to help kick-start your career.

Life in Great Britain

The Life in the United Kingdom test is a computer-based test for individuals seeking  Leave to Remain in the UK or naturalisation as a British citizen and is a requirement under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Life in Great Britain is an online self-learning course that will prepare you for the test. It includes the full official course material, tips and background information and practice tests and is free through the Library website although you do need to be a member of the library to use it which you can join for free.

Tobacco use among the Somali population in Islington

This research was commissioned by Islington PCT and carried out in 2005 and 2006 by the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Unit, University College. It found smoking to be more prevalent than among the general population and a lower knowledge of the health effects.

Refugee Services Directory

This directory is an online guide for refugees, asylum seekers and professionals working in this field. Designed for people in Islington it does refer to services across London and nationally. Information is provided in a question and answer format so an A-Z approach is best avoided. Instead it is best to search under the relevant category. The directory was first constructed in December 2007 and some of the information still dates back to then but much of it has been updated in July 2008 and 2009.