Ensuring access to healthcare for vulnerable migrants

24 November 2010

A conference on health inequalities in the UK, with a focus on access to healthcare for undocumented migrants and asylum seekers.

* Wednesday 24 November 2010, 1.30-6.30pm

* Red Cross, Bradbury House, 7 Lowe Street, Camp Hill, Birmingham B12 0ER

This event is organised by Doctors of the World (http://www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/default.asp) and is being held in conjunction with the HUMA (Health for Undocumented Migrants and Asylum Seekers) network. For more information and a registration form contact Jenny: huma@doctorsoftheworld.org.uk (mailto: huma@doctorsoftheworld.org.uk)

Understanding immigration bail and the asylum process

An workshop for all those interested in learning about immigration detention and the asylum process.

* Saturday 2 October 2010, from 11.30am
* Gateshead Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 1HH

Speakers:

* Adeline Trude – Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID)
* Frances Webber – Institute of Race Relations

Topics include:

* The role of immigration bail
* Where immigration bail meets the criminal justice system
* Supporting asylum seekers in claims and appeals
* Bail and deportation hearings
* Community support in the courtroom

For further information, contact Mark Cookson: cooksonm@hotmail.com (mailto:cooksonm@hotmail.com).

The Coalition’s Approach to Child Protection Services

CPP event on Monday 27 September, 2010

Royal Commonwealth Society, London

Issues covered

• • How will the approach of the new Coalition Government vary from what has gone before?
  • How will the Munro Review gauge quality of children’s social work and child protection practice?
  • How can all agencies enable practitioners to undertake more effective practice?
  • How can we ensure that families with special needs are identified effectively and their needs met?
  • How best can interaction between social work teams and universal services for children and families be improved?
  • How can local government, NHS, police and the third sector best work together?

Please Note

Any problems, please contact our office on 01422 845004 or email seminars@cppseminars.org.uk

How to Book

To see the full programme, speaker biographies, venue information and booking details http://www.cppseminars.org.uk/site/dpb.cfm?do=ref&fldCPPSref=CPS/315&varDetProgBiog=det

There are discounts for voluntary and community organisations and for block bookings.

For further information about The Centre for Public Policy Seminars, please visit our website www.cppseminars.org.uk

Level of an Annual Limit on Economic Migration to the UK

Date: 26^th August 2010
Time: 11am – 1pm
Venue:  East Midlands Councils, Phoenix House, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, LE13 0UL

On 20 May 2010 the Coalition Government said “We will introduce an annual limit on the number of non-EU economic migrants admitted into the UK to live and work. We will consider jointly the mechanism for implementing the limit.”

On 28 June the Government launched a consultation on how an annual limit for Tiers 1 (highly skilled migrants) and 2 (skilled migrants) of the Points Based System for migration from outside the EEA will work in practice, and the mechanism through which it should be achieved.

At the same time the Government commissioned the MAC to consult and provide advice on the level at which the first annual limit should be set (2011/12). In doing so the Government asked the Committee to:

• take into account their overall objective of reducing net migration to the tens of thousands by the end of the Parliament;
• balance economic, social and public service impacts of migration; and
• report by the end of September.

The MAC issued a consultation on 30 June which can be accessed here:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/workingwithus/mac/mac-consultation-annual-limit/

The deadline for the consultation is 7 September 2010.

As you may know the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) are currently consulting on the level that the first year limit on non-EEA immigrants coming to the UK for work should be set at. In doing so the Committee have been asked to take into account economic, public service and social impacts. We would very much like to come to the East Midlands and talk through our consultation with relevant representatives and hear some initial reactions.

Our interests are quite broad around economic, public service and social impacts and are not limited to, but include the following:

Education

• What role do migrants (particularly Tier 1 and Tier 2 migrants and their dependants) play in consuming and providing these services? To what extent can you measure and balance these impacts?
• Do corporate partners have any information on T1/T2 migrants (+ dependants) being employed in the education sector? It would be particularly helpful to get this information from several regions to enable us to bring out any regional variation in this impact in our report.
• How much do local authorities have to spend to accommodate EAL students in their classrooms? What effect, if any, is this having on the education of other students? (we appreciate some EAL students will not be migrants and some migrants will not be EAL students).

Healthcare and social services

• What role do migrants (particularly Tier 1 and Tier 2 migrants and their dependants) play in consuming and providing these services? To what extent can you measure and balance these impacts?
• Again, can partners provide us with evidence (at regional level if possible) of T1/T2 migrants and dependants being employed in the health and social service sectors and their importance to these sectors?
• Do employers offer private healthcare to migrants (and their families) as part of their overall benefits package?
• Can health workers comment on whether non-EEA migrants (pref. T1/T2 + dependants) have particular medical needs (illnesses (hereditary or otherwise) or increased likelihood to abuse alcohol/drugs/etc that could place increased burden on health services?)

Housing

• On housing we are interested in the extent to which migrants deny current residents access to social housing, and the impact of migration in influencing housing availability, rent levels, and house prices.

Crime

• On crime, we want to know the extent to which migrants commit crime (relative to the resident population), and what types of crime, and how much police and prison resource they “consume” as criminals.

Social cohesion

Not an easy area to consult on but we would be interested to hear views on:

• Are there any regional public opinion polls on migration that we could use?
• Can employers comment on the rate of change of the proportion of their workforce that are migrants? Do migrants integrate well into the workforce/local community? Have there been any tensions/disputes among employees?

Economic

• Other than the areas mentioned above are there other economic impacts that should be taken into account (e.g. harder to recruit non-EU workers into hard to fill jobs such as chefs, engineering etc…).

In a nutshell, in recommending a first annual limit for non-EU immigration, we need to understand what impact this may have on your region.

Please indicate your attendance at this event by emailing kirsty.lowe@emcouncils.gov.uk

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Kirsty

Kirsty Lowe
Learning & Development Adviser
East Midlands Councils

Tel. 01664 502 637 Fax. 01664 502659

Please note the new email address, which is now kirsty.lowe@emcouncils.gov.uk.

The East Midlands Councils is the consultative forum for all 46 authorities in the region. It provides support to Councils to improve their services and is a strong voice for the East Midlands.

Tomorrow’s Women

Dear Friend

We are the LeicestHERday Trust based in Leicester. Our vision is to enable women to reach their full potential in all aspects of their lives. We empower women through sharing expertise, knowledge and experiences; by promoting opportunities in training, education, business and employment; by recognising and celebrating women’s achievements; and by consulting and working with partners, other organisations, agencies and community groups. As a women’s organisation based in the East Midlands, we feel our forthcoming ‘Tomorrow’s Women’ event may be of interest to yourselves and your members.

The LeicestHERday Trust is pleased to announce the launch of a unique event, specifically for women who wish to become decision makers of tomorrow. The event is sponsored by Avon “The company for women”. This exclusive event will include guest speaker Sheila Lock – Chief Executive of Leicester City Council, workshops, plus introductions to mentors to help individuals to become Board Members.

Venue: The Adult Education College, 2 Wellington St, Leicester, LE1 6HL
Date:  Thursday 26^th August, 2010
Time: 10am – 4pm

For further information and to book your place online please visit our website by following the link below:

http://www.leicestherday.org.uk/Events/216/tomorrows-women

Also, if you are governed by a Board of Trustee and currently have a vacancy which you wish to advertise, then please provide an A4 document with all the necessary details. We will be happy to promote the vacancy at our ‘Tomorrow’s Women’ event on the 26^th August.

Our sincerest thanks in advance for your assistance and we hope to see you at the event!

Kind regards,

Kate Merrett
Office & Projects Manager
LeicestHERday Trust

0116 255 1697

kate@leicestherday.org.uk

Improving Local Provision Through Multi-Agency Working

The New Immigration Agenda

Wednesday 21^st July 2010   9am to 5pm

Venue: London South Bank University

High profile speakers and leading experts in their respective field have been lined up for this conference.

The day-long conference will be concentrating on the developments in immigration, asylum and human rights law, policy and practice under the new government. It will also focus on the future of accreditation regulation and possible barriers to access to quality legal advice and representation for migrants and refugees.

There will be two keynote speeches and a mixture of plenary sessions and workshops. Delegates will have the opportunity to attend two workshops: one in the first round and one in the second round.

Key Themes:

• The future of accreditation and regulation
• The linkage between regulation, funding and quality
• The new appeals system
• The points-based system
• Earned citizenship
• Free movement in the EU

Key speakers so far confirmed:

• Mr Justice Nicholas Blake QC- President, Upper Tribunal, Immigration & Asylum Chamber
• Lin Homer- Chief Executive, UK Border Agency
• Hugh Barrett- Executive Director for Commissioning, LSC
• Suzanne McCarthy- Immigration Services Commissioner, OISC
• Alison Harvey- General Secretary, ILPA
• Caroline Slocock-, Chief Executive, Refugee & Migrant Justice
• Simon Cox, Barrister- Doughty Street Chambers

Who should attend?

• Immigration and asylum law practitioners (including advisers, solicitors and barristers)
• Legal, employment and educational advisers
• Policymakers and academics
• Government officials and NGOs
• Community and refugee groups
• Employers
• Students

6 CPD hours
The conference is accredited with 6 CPD hours by the Bar Standards Board and the Solicitors Regulation Authority and also qualifies for OISC regulated advisers to claim the same number of CPD hours.

Booking fees:
We are pleased to inform you that the booking fees have not increased from last year’s conference.
The fees include all materials, lunch and VAT.

Standard: £190
Concessionary: £125 – applies to employees of charities, social enterprises and full-time students. (Evidence of eligibility is required)

Special discount: £50 (only 25 places) – applies to employees of small charities and voluntary organisations with an annual income of less than £250,000 and non-wage earners in receipt of Jobseekers’ Allowance and Income Support.
Evidence of eligibility is required)

Please click here for the conference brochure and click here for the booking form in word.

Please e-mail conference@iasuk.org for any query or ring 0207 967 6044.

Equality Act 2010 Event

Be one of the first to find out the very latest on the Equality Act 2010 from some of the key stakeholders involved.

Key note speakers:

Amanda Ariss (Chief Executive) :   Equality and Diversity Forum

Alison Pritchard (Head of Strategy):  Government Equalities Office

Anthony Robinson:  Director of Casework and Litigation at the Equality and
Human Rights Commission.

Join us at this Regional Event and get a Regional and National perspective

Where: Walkers Stadium – Leicester

When:  10th June 2010

Time:   10:00 – 16:00

For more information contact:

Kelly Jussab

Project Officer
Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership
Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living
5-9 Upper Brown Street
Leicester
LE1 5TE

Tel:0116 285 9440
Fax 0116 222 5008

Birmingham trip to celebrate First Co-operative Fortnight

Midlands Co-op are holding an event to celebrate the first Co-operative Fortnight on Saturday 3rd July 2010 at the Aston Villa Stadium from 11am-11.30am and its FREE!

The Voucher Exchange Scheme  group of Leicester City of Sanctuary is funding a coach from Leicester for the day trip. So the event will be free for asylum seekers who will get a wonderful opportunity to get out of Leicester for a short break. The pick up point in Leicester is set to be Knighton Road East at 9.30am.

It is a refreshing family fun day out with exhibitions, tastings,presentations,rafflesiveaways and demonstrations. There will be an opportunity to visit Aston Hall and gardens which is just across the road and take a mini tour of the Aston Villa football ground. Guides who show visitors around Aston Hall  often delight in telling people that the ground on which Villa Park was built was originally Sir Thomas Holte’s vegetable garden or, more specifically, his “cabbage patch”. This may well be the case, but Aston Villa still keep the memory of the Holte family alive in the name of the home supporters end at Villa Park – the Holte End. Aston Villa remain one of the greatest clubs in the history of English football… not a bad result for someone’s old cabbage patch!

Anyone interested in going please contact:

Bassie Hayes bessie.hayes@ntlworld.com (0116 2418747) or
Pamela Inder pam_inder@yahoo.co.uk (0116 2205496)

Child Health and Well-Being: Improving Services for UASCs

Date : 22 June 2010

10:00am — 4:30pm, The Guoman Charing Cross Hotel, London

This symposium, hosted by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies, provides an invaluable opportunity for UKBA staff, children’s services, education sector and third sector practitioners to discuss current progress in improving

the health and well-being of asylum seeking children. The symposium will consider how to develop greater multi-agency working to ensure every child receives the level of specialist care they need and are able to access the services necessary to help them overcome poor physical and psychological health and adapt to cultural, religious and language differences, to enable them to succeed in education and integrate into their local community. Delegates will have the opportunity to debate, network and share best practice in improving outcomes for unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

Further information: http://publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/AF22-PPE.php

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