Advice and Support Provision for Migrants in London: a view from the field

Transcription

1 Advice and Support Provision for Migrants in London: a view from the field Executive Summary October 2011 Concerns have been raised by MRN s members that advice and support services for migrants are shrinking, resulting in inadequate provision in some areas of London. Migrants may seek advice on a range of issues, not all of which can be addressed by generalist advisors. The focus of this briefing is specialist organisations providing advice and support to migrants. Advice services are experiencing simultaneous squeezes on funding from a number of directions. In the face of cuts, many Local Authorities have reduced their funding to advice services. The loss of the Area Based Grant means that poorer boroughs have lost a greater proportion of their funding. Additionally, small and specialist organisations find it hard to compete in the commissioning process being introduced by many Local Authorities. The early end of the London Councils grant scheme has removed another source of funding, in some cases earlier than anticipated. Changes to Legal Aid will hit many high level advice providers, such as Law Centres, hard, particularly in immigration work. Due to reduced funding from other areas, there is increasing competition for grants from trusts. Organisations have experienced a rise in demand for advice. This is, to some extent, due to reduced capacity at some support organisations leading to increased demand at others. The same, generally larger, organisations reducing their capacity are sometimes also reducing out-reach services, a double blow to the organisations who are now dealing with an increased workload and decreased support. Changes to housing benefit and the closure of several large immigration advice providers have also prompted surges in demand. Advice provision is unevenly spread. Understanding the spread of advice provision and how to use what remains most effectively is now important. While central areas remain relatively well provided for, there are several areas in London with very patch support, especially in the outer boroughs. The most obvious of these are Haringey and Enfield in the north, Croydon and the outer boroughs in the south-east and Hounslow in outer west London. There are reports of migrants travelling long distances from these areas in search of advice. Support for networking has been reduced. Lack of funding, particularly for interborough activities, is making networking increasingly difficult at the time it is most needed. There is not necessarily the time and energy to explore possibilities for partnerships when organisations are struggling to cover their basis costs. However, 1

2 consortia of advice providers are working together in some areas to pool resources and create efficient referral systems. Future considerations. Gaps in provision should be taken into consideration when outreach work is considered in the future. The lack of advice in some outer London boroughs could be addressed by outreach sessions from the more stable organisations. Maintaining effective networks of communication in order to understand where the need is greatest and to develop collaboration will be important. More effective advertisement of existing services could also reduce the distance travelled by migrants in search of advice. There is a perception that migrants are increasingly using the internet to search for advice services. Making sure that organisations websites are easy to find and up to date could reduce the long distances currently travelled by some migrants. 2

3 Researched and written by Oonagh Skrine Introduction This briefing was compiled in response to concerns from Migrants Rights Network s members that cuts in funding for legal advice and support for migrants is being felt on the ground and that these effects are distributed unevenly across London. Our members experiences suggested that while in some areas of London provision has remained stable and is adequate, in other areas there is a lack of provision. We have had reports of migrants travelling long distances across London in order to access advice. In view of the reduction in available funding, it seemed helpful to establish an overview of the current situation. This was done through a rapid assessment of the advice available across London. Two sources of information were used to produce this briefing. First, published research and briefings on the impact of cuts on advice and the voluntary sector were consulted with a view to draw out their significance for migrant communities. Second, interviews were carried out with key stakeholders across London. Where possible contact was made with an organisation offering advice in each borough or stakeholders with a regional overview were consulted. The information presented here is not a comprehensive overview of the situation across London as it was not possible to contact organisations in every area and the information provided varied according to the nature of the organisations consulted. However, it endeavours to indicate the geographical spread of advice and some shifts in the provision available. 1. Support and advice for migrants Migrant communities have advice needs on a variety of issues. Immigration advice is one key part of these needs but as migrants settle they often require advice on a whole other host of issues such as welfare, employment, and housing. Migrant and refugee community organisations (MRCOs) play a key role as providers of support, gatekeepers and links between migrants and mainstream organisations. MRCOs form part of and benefit from the support of wider voluntary sector networks and therefore the strength of these networks is also an important element in the advice and support networks of migrants. The way in which migrants access advice plays an important part in ensuring that existing resources are used most efficiently. As services are reorganised, access to timely and reliable information on advice and support services available help determine whether migrants can find the most adequate alternative provision in terms of suitability of the service and location. However, there is only limited information available on the pathways migrants follow to access advice and support. Migrants who need support and advice access these through a variety of routes, including generalist advice providers, providers specialising on giving advice and support to migrants 3

4 and migrant and refugee community organisations. The specific needs of migrants, particularly recent arrivals, mean that they do not necessarily access advice through mainstream channels. Migrants are reported to often access advice through networks to which they belong such as family and religious institutions. Charities may also be approached and provide advice directly or have the knowledge to signpost migrants elsewhere. It seems that advice is increasingly sought online, although not all migrants have the resources to access the internet. Informal and formal referrals play a key part in accessing advice and support with migrants moved on by their first point of contact to a provider who has the capacity or expertise to address issues that the primary contact point does not. 1.1 How do migrants seek advice? Word of mouth and networks Word of mouth recommendations from friends and family were generally mentioned as the main way in which migrants found advice organisations. Religious and community networks to which migrants belonged are also sources of information on where to seek advice, church networks were particularly commonly mentioned (London Citizens workshop at Praxis). Depending on their situation, migrants have varying access to support networks and understanding of the advice that they need. Bows and Sims give the example of recently arrived asylum seekers, who are less likely to have entered into a support network, being more reliant on community organisations than someone with friends and family in the country. 1 People who have been in the immigration system for a long time often have a clearer idea of what advice they require (SRMN). Internet The groups spoken to in preparation for this briefing agreed that migrants are increasingly using the internet to find advice organisations (HMC, AW, SRMN). A survey by Greater Manchester Pay and Employment Rights Advice Service found that the internet was nearly as an important source of information as friends and family. 2 This is echoed by discussions with migrants about seeking legal advice (London Citizens workshop). Use of the internet may contribute to the distance migrants are travelling as they find organisations further from their local area. Use of internet can result in organisations whose websites appear early in searches receiving increased inquiries. The Migrant s Rights Network, for example, receives several calls per day from people using the internet to find advice providers. Other organisations consulted felt that their clients were unable to afford to access the internet (LRN). 1 Alison Bowes and Duncan Sims, Advocacy for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities: Understandings and Expectations, British Journal for Social Work, 2006, p Claire Faichnie, Settled In? Views and Experiences of Migrant Workers Working and Living in Greater Manchester: a research and evaluation report, Greater Manchester Employment Rights Advice Service, July 2011, p.26 4

5 Referrals between organisations Referrals between organisations with different areas of expertise and levels of advice are important to ensuring that migrants receive the right types of advice. At the initial stages of seeking advice migrants sometimes contact or use the services of organisations unable to offer advice, who try to sign-post them to appropriate advice services. This can result in a sudden volume of clients going to certain advice organisations or unexpected connections between areas. For example, a children s charity working in Croydon started referring clients to the Hackney Migrant Centre. After initial advice has been accessed, referrals may be made between organisations. MRCOs may be a bridge to services such as law centres and solicitors (HMC, AW). Referrals between MRCOs and CABx and the Refugee Council for different levels of advice and support are also reported (SRMN). There is a general impression that it is becoming more difficult to make referrals as capacity is reduced across the advice sector. 1.2 Migrants travelling for advice Migrants with particularly difficult problems, such as refused asylum seekers, are known to travel around organisations, sometimes covering long distances, in the hope that someone will be to help (RAMFEL). People spoken to in some boroughs, however, expressed concern that migrants would not travel outside the borough and were therefore going without advice (Hounslow REC, GAVS). It seems probable that those with the most pressing problems will be most likely to travel. Even travelling within some of the larger boroughs may prove expensive and off-putting for some migrants (RAMFEL of Havering). Organisations present in several of the outer boroughs (Sutton, Havering) have found people travelling a long way from outside London to seek specialist advice. Several of the outer London boroughs (Havering, Bromley) are large and with little advice provision, further extending the distance these people need to travel. 1.3 What kind of advice? Immigration advice - Organisations spoken to for this briefing placed immigration advice as the main concern of their clients (SRMN, AW). However, while immigration is often someone s overriding preoccupation, once the issue is resolved other problems come to the surface. Overstayers and people with the most difficult immigration problems are known to travel over a wide area in an effort to find an organisation able to help with their problems (RAMFEL). Housing - Housing was the second source of queries for several of the organisations spoken to. One organisation in south London was particularly concerned about the transitional period between NASS and mainstream accommodation after asylum seekers were granted leave to remain (AW). In a recent event on housing and migration in West 5

6 London hosted by REAP the same issue cropped up as a theme of major concern. Changes to Local Housing Allowance are likely to throw up more housing problems in the future. 3 Welfare and Benefits Advice on welfare and benefits was commonly listed as one the main demands. Other - Other matters on which the organisations spoken to were approached for advice included applications for schools, hardship grants, health and translating qualifications. 1.4 Role of MRCO advice organisations MRCOs provide varying levels of advice themselves as well as acting as links between migrants and the mainstream advice sector. Through running advice services in parallel with a drop-in centre, they also provide more personal contact and emotional support than can be offered by more formal advice agencies. Lack of knowledge of the British system, difficulties speaking English and immigration restrictions make MRCOs important links between migrants and more mainstream services Shifts in the funding landscape and its impact on providers The advice and voluntary support sectors are being squeezed by cuts to all their traditional sources of funding. As well as cuts and changes to Local Authority funding, organisations are having to contend with changes in other areas, such as the potential withdrawal from scope from Legal Aid of several areas of advice and changes in funding from Primary Care Trusts. In most cases, those not already dealing with severely reduced funding are worried about how they will survive following Spring None of the organisations spoken to had dedicated fundraisers and the effort of applying for funding frequently seemed to be diverting the energy and time of directors from developing their organisations in other areas. London Councils grant scheme The repatriation of funds to local councils from the London Councils cross-borough grant scheme is a major loss of funding to many organisations. This grant programme is a major source of funding for advice targeted at migrant communities across London. The councils are allowed to spend the repatriated money as they chose, resulting in uneven consequences of the repatriation across London: while Sutton and Lewisham have promised to ring-fence the money for the voluntary sector, many others will not. Projects not rated as 3 LVSC, The Big Squeeze: The Squeeze Tightens, July 2011, p Migrants Rights Network, The proposed changes to legal aid and what they could mean for migrants access to justice March

7 an A* priority will cease to be funded from 15 th August A* priority projects have their funding protected until Of the twenty-three projects with their funding protected until 2012, six undertake policy and campaign/lobbying for the BMER voluntary sector and a further six provide an advice and representation service relating to discrimination and tribunal cases. Five services to improve access to advice for BMER & migrant communities, in the fields of welfare rights, housing, immigration & asylum, health, education & employment were rated as A*. This includes 684,234 to AdviceUK, most of which funds BAN Network organisations. 6 Fourteen other organisations commissioned for improving access to advice for rank as category B and C, meaning that they lost funding in August This includes eight law centres. The end of London Council s funding is particularly damaging as it reduces the capacity for cross borough work. London Council s advice funding was also valuable because could be used to support people not eligible for legal aid. Local Authorities Funding from central government to local authorities has been particularly hard hit by budget cuts. Cuts to the Area Based Grant have meant that areas with higher deprivation scores are facing the loss of a higher proportion of their budgets. 7 Voluntary Sector organisations in areas with a high deprivation score are doubly disadvantaged by being reliant on statutory sources for a higher percentage of their income. 8 Cuts to advice providers by Local Authorities vary across London. Although not all boroughs have yet made decisions on cuts to voluntary sector funding, others have announced cuts of as much as 3,435,552 in Hackney. Other Local Authorities cutting over 2,000,000 of funding to the voluntary sector are Camden, Waltham Forest and Greenwich. 9 Tower Hamlets and Hackney have both the highest deprivation scores and the highest level of cuts to their Local Authorities. 10 TSRC analysis of the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations found that asylum seekers and refugees and BMER communities appear in the top ten beneficiaries of organisations 5 John Plummer, London Councils agrees to give back borough grants scheme money to local authorities, Third Sector Online 15 December London Councils, New budget agreed for pan-london grants programme, May London Councils, New budget agreed for pan-london grants programme, May AdviceUK, BAN Network: A strong policy voice supported by the work of subgroups 7 David Kane & James Allen, Counting the Cuts: the impact of spending cuts on the UK voluntary sector, NCVO, August 2011, p David Clifford, Frida Geyne Rajma & John Mohan, How dependent is the third sector on public funding? Evidence from the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations, Third Sector Research Organisation, October 2010, p False Economy, Exclusive: More than 2000 charities and community groups face cuts 2 August LVSC, The Big Squeeze: The Squeeze Tightens, July 2011, p

8 receiving public funding; advice provision was the fourth most common activity of such organisations. 11 Transition to commissioning Local Authorities have been moving towards funding projects, including the voluntary sector, through commissioning rather than grant making. Small organisations are likely to do less well through the process of commissioning. The commissioning of particular services means that organisations have to focus on funder priorities, often delivering short term projects and not provide funding for their core running costs. 12 A series of events run by REAP in West London concluded that black minority ethnic and refugee groups find it difficult to directly access the commissioning process in their local areas as these are designed with larger organisations in mind. Forming partnerships, the solution suggested by commissioners, is a big challenge due to the time and trust required to form them. As a result these groups felt excluded from commissioning opportunities 13. Similarly, a survey of third sector organisations in Haringey found that there was concern about the commissioning process, due to be introduced in the borough this summer 14. Charitable trusts With funding from other sources declining, organisations are intending to increase their funding from charitable trusts. 15 Trusts were already a major source of funding for respondents in the 2010 Big Squeeze survey, 15.5% of funding streams came from London trusts and 16.3% from national trusts. 16 The recession has reduced the grant making value of many charitable trusts and some organisations are finding that they ve exhausted the trusts that they can apply to for funding (HMC). 17 There is a perception that advice work and refugees are no longer key themes for funding and that there may be more funding for areas, such as volunteer coordinators, linked to the Big Society (HMC, SRMN, CRC). 11 David Kane & James Allen, Counting the Cuts: the impact of spending cuts on the UK voluntary sector, NCVO, August 2011, p Ruth Grove-White & Louisa Anderson, Migrant Communities and the Big Society : Struggling to Belong in the Age of Austerity, Migrant Refugee Community Forum, March 2011, p REAP, 2010, BME & Refugee Groups access to Local Authority and PCT Commissioning in West London, Consulting in Place Mapping Haringey s Third Sector, HAVCO, January 2010, p %204th%20February% pdf 15 LVSC, The Big Squeeze: The Squeeze Tightens, July 2011, p.7, LVSC, The Big Squeeze 2010: The recession, Londoners and the voluntary groups who serve them, 2010, p Ruth Grove-White & Louisa Anderson, Migrant Communities and the Big Society : Struggling to Belong in the Age of Austerity, Migrant Refugee Community Forum, March 2011, p

9 Legal aid The reforms of legal aid, while not often directly affecting the budgets of MRCOs, are likely to lead to a lack of higher level advice for migrants. The two largest providers of legal aid funded advice and representation on asylum and immigration went into administration in the span of just over a year due to a combination of factors including the late payment of legal aid fees and cuts to the legal aid budget. 18 Their demise has left uncertainty for thousands of clients, in the case of IAS up to 25, Current proposals on legal aid include removing whole areas of law from its scope, including welfare benefits, employment, debt housing and immigration (except for asylum and human rights). It is predicted that a third of Law Centres may close as a result of these changes. 20 There is already a lack of good quality immigration solicitors for MRCOs to refer their clients; a further reduction will make it harder for MRCOs to refer their clients for higher level advice. 21 Changes to legal aid will also affect other areas of advice used by migrants. In West London, the firm Law for All which provided advice on a host of issues went into administration over the summer. Primary Care Trusts Health services have been an important source of funding for many local community projects in the past years. However, grant budgets in this area have also decreases and the changes to Primary Care Trusts are of further concern to some organisations. Barnet Refugee Service, for example, started life as a healthcare project and remains largely dependent on PCT funding. The Springfield Law Centre advice service is also linked to the NHS. Reduced funding to the NHS for services such as interpreting could also increase demand on advice organisations. In Croydon, for example, several organisations were critical of the local PCT and had to assist their clients with the problems it caused (KCWA, CRC). 3. The shifting landscape of provision for migrants in London The simultaneous reduction of funding from different sources is having a noticeable impact on available advice and support for migrants. As some sources of support disappear completely and others have reduced their services, demand is outstripping the availability of support. There are indications that some areas of London have been more affected than others. Some factors influencing the unequal impact are: the voluntary sector seems to have 18 MRN, Refugee and Migrant Justice goes into administration, June MRN, Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) goes into administration, July Legal Action Group, Immigration Advisory Service in Administration, July LVSC, The Big Squeeze: The Squeeze Tightens, July 2011, p Migrants Rights Network, The proposed changes to legal aid and what they could mean for migrants access to justice March

10 been at different levels of development across London with some areas having better established organisations and networks; different approaches between Local Authorities towards cuts to funding for the voluntary sector; a concentration of support services in inner London. 3.1 Shifts in demand for advice and capacity to deliver Reduced provision from other organisations - Some of the larger organisations clients could be referred to have reduced their services, resulting in smaller MRCOs seeing an increase in client numbers. Hackney Migrant Centre, for example, saw a surge in demand when a larger organisation nearby reduced its drop-in service. The Refugee Council has stopped its drop-in service and now makes appointments or offers advice through its All Language Telephone Advice Service (ALTAS). It has been suggested that the telephone system will put extra demand on RCOs as they will need to support clients with the process. The closure of the Refugee Council office in Hounslow has led to an increase in asylum seekers visiting Hounslow REC. Unfortunately they have lost their OISC trained staff so can do little to help. Housing benefit changes - Reductions to the housing benefit allowance are having a disproportionate effect in London, forcing many households to move to cheaper areas. 22 BMER households are likely to be overrepresented within this group due to a higher proportion of low-income households and larger family sizes. 23 The cap on housing benefits will essentially render parts of inner London impossible to afford. In Kensington and Chelsea there will be a shortfall of 250 per week for a three bedroom house, in Tower Hamlets and Hackney a shortfall of 10 per week. This is likely to lead to households moving to outer London, increasing pressure on services in those boroughs (London Councils, 2010: 5). 24 In Barnet certain areas of the borough have become too expensive to live in on housing benefit, forcing people to move or supplement their rent through other means, such as borrowing or taking money from their disability living allowance. Finding accommodation or dealing with the consequences of paying additional rent to keep the current accommodation is leading to increased demand for advice (BRS). Cases closing - The closure of RMJ and IAS led to temporary increases in demand for immigration advice as their clients sought information and dealt with or sought transfers to new solicitors. The resolution of legacy cases also increased demand 22 LVSC, The Big Squeeze: The Squeeze Tightens, July 2011, p Sue Beasor, Housing Benefit and welfare reform: impact of the proposed changes on black and minority ethnic communities, April 2011, p London Councils, The impact of Housing Benefit Changes in London: Analysis of findings from a survey of landlords in London, September 2010, p.5 t20.pdf 10

11 both from people who received decisions on their cases and those who had not yet received a decision but felt that they should have done. Telephone helplines - There are concerns that the increased use of telephone portals to access advice will increase demand on those still providing face to face advice. Migrants may be concerned about language, privacy and cost when accessing advice by telephone. Since the introduction of the All Language Advice Telephone Service by the Refugee Council the Croydon Refugee Centre has found that it has been spending increasing amounts of time assisting migrants who use the service. Loss of support from partner organisations - The organisations picking up the increased demand are, in some cases, dealing with a simultaneous loss of support from some of their partners. Larger advice providers, including some CABs and larger migrant specialist organisations, have stopped outreach sessions at smaller organisations due to lack of resources (AW, HMC). 3.2 Geographical spread of advice For the purposes of this briefing London s boroughs have been broken into groups based on a combination of location, similarities in provision and connecting networks. Some areas are more cohesive than others. The overall impression is of decreasing availability of advice the further from the centre of London a borough is. The south east boroughs (Croydon, Bromley and Bexley), outer west boroughs (Hounslow and Hillingdon) and several northern boroughs (Enfield and Haringey) appear to be particularly badly served. 11

12 North The north does not appear to have many inter-borough networks. The area falls into the remit of several CVS partnerships and coverage by BME and refugee forums is patchy and disconnected. The three outer boroughs, along with Waltham Forest form the North London CVS Partnership; Hackney is part of East London CVS; Camden and Islington were part now closed Central London CVS Partnership. Hackney, Camden, Islington Hackney appears to have the most connections within the borough, with the CVS supporting a refugee forum and working on a migrant strategy for the council. There are also active links between the forums, Hackney Migrant Centre and the Law Centre. Migrant support in the borough also appears to be well known across London, with Hackney Community Law Centre mentioned by organisations as far away as Croydon. Changes in procedure by Camden Council have made it harder for small RCOs to get funding in recent years (Camden BME Alliance). Islington CVS (Voluntary Action Islington) has been severely cut and reports that the Local Authority is reviewing funding of the third sector. 25 Camden, Islington and Hackney each have small scale MRCOs based in churches offering support or advice (St Pancras Refugee Centre, St Mary Magdalene Centre for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Hackney Migrant Centre 26 ) and also relatively close to large advice organisations in inner London. Hackney Migrant Centre reported a dramatic increase in clients from across London over spring 2011, severely stretching its capacity. All three boroughs have CABx and law centres. Hackney Community Law Centre s response to the legal aid consultation reports that the reforms of legal aid combined with the loss of London Councils funding will lead to a cut of 75-85%, which would not be survivable. 27 Islington Law Centre has a much more diverse funding base so may be more resilient; Camden Community Law Centre appears to be relatively reliant on Local Authority and LSC funding so may also be at risk. Haringey, Enfield, Barnet Haringey appears to have a lack of migrant advice organisations. Many migrants from the poorer east of the borough go to the nearby Hackney Migrant Centre. A survey of third sector organisations commissioned by HAVCO in 2010 found that although about a third were providing some kind of advice, the emphasis was on families and children. It also found 25 Voluntary Action Islington, The future of voluntary action Islington, August Legal Aid Reform: Consultation Response, Hackney Community Law Centre, February Legal Aid Reform: Consultation Response, Hackney Community Law Centre, February nse.pdf 12

13 that around 70% were micro or small organisations. 28 The move to commissioning that the council plans for this summer is unlikely to suit these small organisations. Action for Social Integration (ASI) in Enfield recently lost its London Council funding (on which it was dependent) and is unable to provide free advice until it finds a new source of funding. ASI previously ran a drop-in in Haringey and noted that people travelled to Enfield for advice because of the lack in Haringey. There is no law centre in Enfield and the REC is inactive. Barnet Refugee Service (BRS) sets Barnet apart from other northern boroughs. BRS provides advice to refugees in Barnet through their office and 7 outreach clinics including in schools and hospitals. The organisation has an emphasis on health, with much of their funding coming from Barnet PCT. Immigration advice is provided to OISC level 1 and is supplemented by a pro bono immigration solicitor. BRS works in partnership with a wide range of other organisations and agencies in Barnet including the Law Centre, CAB and PCT. BRS mentioned clients travelling from Enfield for advice. Although BRS is currently able to maintain its level of provision, there is some concern about funding in East Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Newham, Tower Hamlets RAMFEL provide infrastructure support across East London, filling gaps such as the absence of a BME Forum in Havering, and provide advice services in Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham. Specialist advice for migrants is also provided by Praxis in Tower Hamlets. Other sources of advice in the area are OISC level 1 advisors at CAB, some advice from small MRCOs and East London Community Law Service in Waltham Forest. There is a lack of law centres in the area, with the exception of Tower Hamlets Law Centre and East London Community Law Service. Barking & Dagenham and Newham have particularly large numbers of small MRCOs, whereas Newham Council has cut all funding to single ID groups. Stratford Advice Arcade in Newham brings together a range of advice organisations and solicitors offering short pro bono sessions. 29 Advice is accessible to most people in the area, but the size and scarcity of advice in Havering may make access more difficult there. RAMFEL is currently able to meet demand for advice, although it is operating at full capacity. 28 Consulting in Place Mapping Haringey s Third Sector, HAVCO, January %204th%20February% pdf

14 South Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham This block of boroughs is relatively well resourced. Lewisham, Southwark and Lambeth have several organisations providing high level immigration advice, such as the Refugee Council in Lambeth and Lewisham Refugee Network in Lewisham (OISC level 3). Although Lewisham Refugee Network (LRN) is funded by Lewisham Council, meaning that residents of Lewisham have to be prioritised, it is also regularly attended by people coming from Lambeth, Southwark and Greenwich. LRN is notable for having secured Council funding until The Refugee Council One Stop Service is open to refugees and asylum seekers from across London but appointments are now made through the All Language Telephone Service rather than through a drop-in. The Southwark Legal Advice Network includes the Southwark Refugee Project and Multilingual Community Rights Shop, both of which provide immigration and more general advice. Advice services in Lewisham and Southwark are supported by the Lewisham Advice Providers Consortium and Southwark Legal Advice Network respectively. LRN, which does not have a specialist welfare and benefits or housing advisor, refers their clients to members of the Advice Consortium for this type of advice. However, it has become increasingly difficult to find anywhere with space. Lewisham does not have a law centre but finding solicitors was not remarked on as a particular problem. Southwark CAB runs a specialist immigration session staffed by a solicitor from Southwark Law Centre. Southwark Law Centre is concerned that legal aid reforms will mean that it has to reduce its work, or that it will no longer be able to function at all. 30 Although Lambeth Community Law Centre reported that it would be likely to reduce services if the legal aid reforms were implemented, it did not suggest that it would be forced to close. 31 Croydon, Bromley, Bexley, Greenwich A block of large boroughs in the South East lack a migrant orientated advice organisation, although they have a range of small MRCOs offering some advice services. Croydon is sometimes mentioned as a borough from which migrants are travelling to other parts of London for advice. Until recently the area was served by an active network of BME forums, the South London BME Forum (Bromley, Bexley, Croydon, Merton, Kingston and Richmond). The network lost London Council funding this year and is no longer active. Although Croydon BME Forum is still active the situation of the other members is unclear. All the boroughs except for Bromley have law centres, Bromley Council directs people to Lambeth Community Law Centre. Croydon Law Centre is part of South West London Law 30 Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales Consultation Paper CP12/10 A Response by Southwark Law Centre, February Lambeth Law Centre Response to Consultation on Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales, February

15 Centres, whose response to the legal aid consultation reported that they will close if the reforms go through. 32 Within Croydon the BME Forum and the Asian Resource Centre provide support to migrant organisations. Croydon Voluntary Action hosts a Refugee Forum although its level of activity is unclear. Most support for migrants and refugees in Croydon is provided informally by small MRCOs, mainly run by volunteers in their spare time. The effort of sustaining the organisation and problems finding funding are forcing some MRCOs to close: one contact mentioned the declining numbers attending networking meetings (BFA). Many of the MRCOs cater to particular ethnic groups, this sometimes means that refugees fall between the gaps or there is not the specialism to deal with their situation (CRC). MRCOs in Croydon find it hard to refer people to advice services within Croydon and mentioned referring clients to the Refugee Council in Lambeth and other organisations in Southwark and Lewisham. Several organisations mentioned increasing difficulties accessing the CAB, which now apparently requires people to fill out forms as a first step. The council was considered unsupportive, particularly considering the presence of the UKBA at Lunar House bringing many asylum seekers and refugees to the borough. Greenwich appears to be similar to Croydon in that there is a large number of small single ethnicity MRCOs but not a larger migrant support organisation. Greenwich has an active BME Forum hosted by the CVS (GAVS). The Greenwich Community Law Centre, who provides immigration and other advice services, under threat following the announcement that the council would withdraw its funding. 33 Bromley and Bexley are large boroughs with little advice available, particularly on immigration. Both have CABx and Bexley has Cross Street Law Centre, which is open to residents of the South East of England. 34 The Migrant Resource Centre is starting to provide advice in Bromley and Bexley (MRC). Sutton, Richmond, Kingston, Wandsworth, Merton In contrast to the eastern half of the South London BME Partnership, Sutton, Kingston and Richmond have relatively stable organisations offering low level OISC advice and general support to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. With the help of London Council funding a partnership was established between Sutton Refugee and Migrant Network (SRMN) and Refugee Action Kingston (RAK). Some repatriated money from London Councils has been ring-fenced by Sutton Council but it is not clear whether the partnership will continue. While SRMN has close links with the council and is fairly confident of continued funding, RAK has lost London Council funding. RAK operates drop-ins in Kingston and Richmond. There is currently good coverage of the area by CABx, RECs, CVS and Law Centres. The CVS and Law Centres are part of regional groups (South London CVS Partnership and South West 32 Legal Aid Reform: Consultation Response, South West London Law Centre, February onse.pdf 33 catastrophe a fter_funding_cut/?ref=twtrec

16 London Law Centres). Kingston Law Centre also serves Richmond and Sutton is served by Croydon Law Centre. SWLLC submission to the legal aid consultation suggests that the reduction in legal aid could lead to the collapse of the group of law centres, which would leave a serious gap in the South West. 35 Users of the South West London and St George Mental Health Trust (Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth) are able to access debt, welfare, housing and mental health advice from Springfield Law Centre. The organisations consulted (SRMN, AW), however, did not express particular reliance on law centres. One (SRMN) was already referring people to Hackney Law Centre, although LSC reforms also put this at risk. In partnership with other organisations, Kingston Voluntary Action has set up Kingston-i, a website directing people to sources of advice in Kingston, with google translate built in. Asylum Welcome runs drop-in centres in Wandsworth and Merton but funding is not secure after March next year. Asylum Welcome has lost or had reductions in attendance from several advisors from other organisations, including the CAB and a large migrant support charity, due to their own funding problems. There have recently been clients from as far away as Tottenham and Kilburn. People regularly come from other parts of South London, particularly Croydon. West Hounslow, Hillingdon, Ealing, Harrow, Brent Outer West London is sometimes referred to as an area particularly lacking in advice services. Second tier organisations such as Refugee Forums have faded out across the area over the last three years. Refugees in Effective and Active Partnership (REAP) provides capacity building and lobbying support to organisations across the outer west boroughs, although it is suffering from reduced resources. 36 The West is unusual in its patchy coverage by CVSs. Hounslow CVS is now operated by a London wide company who are seldom present in the area, Harrow and Brent have also lost their CVS. Hillingdon and Brent are the only outer boroughs to still have law centres, and these will suffer reductions in resources from both LSC and London Councils. Hounslow REC, which previously provided a range of advice services, has lost its Local Authority funding in the commissioning process and can now only do work on discrimination. The commission has yet to be granted to any organisation and the situation is exacerbated by an overstretched CAB and the recent closure of the local Law Centre. Hounslow previously had a Refugee Council office, which also closed in the last year, meaning that the REC are being contacted by more asylum seekers than previously, who they are unable to help. Small RCOs have not received funding for advice for years so are unable to help. 35 Legal Aid Reform: Consultation Response, South West London Law Centre, February 2011 < onse.pdf

17 Although migrants on the edge of the borough may well seek advice in neighbouring areas, the general impression is that people are not leaving the borough and are left without advice. Despite the closure of some large advice providers, Ealing appears to have a relatively healthy migrant support sector. The borough no longer has a CAB, although its residents can access the CAB in Hillingdon, whose resources are being reduced. Ealing lost its branch of Law for All, which was forced into administration by the changes to legal aid. 37 Residents of Ealing can access Hillingdon Law Centre, although it does not do outreach in the borough. Despite these blows to provision in the borough, Ealing Advice Forum remains active, the REC takes on some case work and there are a number of other organisations providing advice (REAP). The Local Authority is supportive and provides funding for advice services. Hillingdon is reported to be an area from which migrants travel long distances for advice, suggesting that there are barriers for migrants accessing advice, although it has both a CAB and Law Centre. While some advice can be accessed through charities focussed on disability or carers, there is a lack of advice tailored to migrants needs. Unaccompanied migrants arriving at Heathrow come under the responsibility of Hillingdon Council, which received additional funding from central government to support them and until recently had an asylum support team. Neither Brent nor Harrow has a CVS and both lack an obvious source of information on migrant advice. Some migrants from Brent and Harrow are reported at advice services in Barnet (BRS), but it seems more likely that they will use services in central London due to the transport links. Brent Law Centre s submission to the legal aid consultation reports that the council is considering withdrawing funding and that they would become unviable in the face of this combined with legal aid reforms. 38 Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster The situation in inner West London (Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster) is better. These smaller boroughs have retained their CVS network and law centres. Although Hammersmith and Fulham law centre has been severely reduced, it still has an active Refugee Forum and CVS. The Migrant Resource Centre is based in Westminster and provides advice to residents of the inner boroughs and infrastructure support to over 40 community organisations. The Migrant and Refugee Communities Forum based in Kensignton and Chelsea likewise provides advice and support to community organisations throughout West London. The Notre Dame Refugee Centre also provides advice in central London, specialising in helping French speaking migrants Ministry of Justice Consultation Paper CP12/10: The Reform of Legal Aid, Response by Brent Law Centre e.pdf

18 Conclusion The landscape of advice and support for migrants is rapidly changing with a number of services closing down, others reducing services and some others anticipating reductions in the near future. Spring 2012 will be a difficult time for several of those organisations not already experiencing reduced funding. Legal aid proposals could have an even deeper impact with the threatened closure of many law centres. While there are several large and well established migrant support organisations in the inner boroughs, which are better placed to withstand the current funding situation, situation in the outer boroughs is less stable. Haringey and Enfield in the north, Hillingdon and Hounslow in the west and Croydon and the south east outer boroughs stand out as areas particularly lacking in advice for migrants. Changes in one area can have a large impact on another as clients are re-directed from closing services to remaining services. The use made of grant money repatriated by London Councils and differing prioritisation of advice services means that some boroughs have fared better than others. The significance of local authority support for advice services explains the variation in advice provision between boroughs to some extent. The loss of the Area Based Grant is exacerbating the lack of funding in deprived boroughs, some of which were already struggling to provide advice. In general, more central boroughs seemed to have maintained better provision, sometimes being the home of large advice organisations that are having to reduce their outreach work in outlying areas. The lack of advice provision in many outer boroughs is likely to become an increasing problem as reductions in housing benefit make accommodation in central boroughs unaffordable for many migrants. In order to protect advice services in the future it will be crucial to make the case for funding at a local level. In some boroughs advice consortia help make better use of limited resources, such as training sessions, and ease sharing information. Other networks, such as BME forums and CVS are also likely to help in the transition, although closures are also taking place, particularly at the inter-borough level. Maintaining inter-borough networks will also be essential, particularly to migrants in need of direction to advice services not available in their own borough. Awareness of boroughs lacking in advice could also inform the work of larger organisations still able to provide outreach sessions. Several organisations spoken to suggested that migrants are increasingly using the internet to seek advice. Clear and easy to find websites could assist both migrants and those sign-posting them to advice to find the most convenient services. 18

19 Organisations interviews North Hackney Migrant Centre HMC Action for Social Integration (Enfield) Barnet Refugee Service ASI BRS East Refugee and Migrant Forum of East London RAMFEL Southeast Croydon BME Forum Blessing Family Association (Croydon) KCWA Trust (Croydon) Croydon Refugee Centre Lewisham Refugee Network Greenwich Action for Voluntary Services BFA KCWA CRC LRN GAVS Southwest Sutton Refugee and Migrant Network SRMN Asylum Welcome (Wandsworth and Merton) AW West Hounslow Race Equality Council Hounslow REC Refugees in Effective and Active Partnership REAP 19