Thread by @alison_phipps

UK Government Resettlement Scheme published (h/t @ZoeJardiniere)
Starts out looking promising i.e. resettlement according to criteria in Refugee Convention & by UNHCR but then brings in whole set of new criteria on top of 'well founded fear' assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

2/
• Legal and/or Physical Protection Needs;
• Survivors of Violence and/or Torture;
• Medical Needs;
• Women and Girls at Risk;
• Family Reunification;
• Children and Adolescents at Risk;
• Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions.

3/ This lesson from Syrian Resettlement scheme has NOT been learned. Adding new criteria to existing UNHCR work and Convention adds delays, makes work harder on ground, and is playing fast and loose with the Convention. @CMonaghanSNP

4/ Looks like local authorities and Strategic Migration Partnerships will be responsible for finding 'suitable accommodation' [that will need great scrutiny after #Mears, #Serco #Napier debacles] Heavy emphasis also in doc on Community Sponsorship (more on that in moment)

5/ Language: "All adults arriving through the UKRS and Community Sponsorship Scheme anywhere in the UK should receive a minimum of eight hours’ English language tuition a week in their first year." Differs in devolved jurisdictions. Again, needs watchful eye.

6/ HE (Scotland) "Further/higher education fees are free for eligible students resettled through UK’s resettlement schemes who have been ordinarily resident in the UK at all times since being granted leave to remain and are ordinarily resident in Scotland on relevant date" (p13)

7/ Community Sponsorship. (Disclosure - I am a fan of this for some countries NZ/Canada but very sceptical in UK context given potential overlap with border guarding roles of sponsors). Also, it requires significant funds which should be covered by State under its obligations.

8/ New Refugee Resettlement Policy Guidance makes a lot of noise about Community Sponsorship and links to this guidance of July 2021 assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

9/ "As a community sponsor, you will be allocated a family fleeing conflict, and it will be your responsibility to support the resettled family from the moment of arrival in the UK. This will include:
 meeting the family at the airport;

10/ providing a warm welcome and cultural orientation;
 providing housing;
 supporting access to medical and social services;
 English language tuition;
(p.5)"

11/ "supporting attendance at local Job Centre Plus appointments and assistance with navigating social welfare provision; and,
 support towards employment and self-sufficiency."

12/ "Your formal responsibility to support the resettled family will last for one year, with the exception of housing, for which the responsibility lasts for two years."

13/ And here's the rub: "The amount community sponsors need to raise can vary significantly depending on the in-kind support they are able to draw on, but the amount can typically range from around £5,000 to £20,000." (p11)

14/ "As part of your application, you must provide evidence that you have available funding of at least £9,000".
"You must be able to demonstrate that you have suitable & sustainable accommodation for a resettled family, and that it will be available for a minimum of two years."

15/ Plenty more to think through with this new scheme but the needs of hosting communities must not be overlooked. Again and again we learn the hard way that successful resettlement needs thriving holistic communities approaches, with agency at all levels. And resource.

17/ Listening to #Afghanistan debates today from U.K. Parliament - Commons and Lords - struck again by hypocrisy & double standards of ‘safe and legal’ resettlement for people who have had to use unsafe and illegal routes to reach camps and third countries. #BordersBill

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