EOC(3) MW 001  

Equality of Opportunity Committee

Inquiry into Migrant Workers

Response from Black Enviroment Network (BEN)

Interested parties are invited to submit written evidence to the Clerk of the Committee at the above address, to arrive no later than Friday 4 January 2008. If possible, please supply an electronic version in MS Word or Rich Text format, either by e mail to equality.comm@wales.gsi.gov.uk or on a disk.

Examine the experiences of migrant workers and their families in Wales with particular reference to: working and living conditions; access to public services; social networking

• Identify the impact of economic migration on public service deliverers and local communities
• Explore the impact of the current regulatory framework governing the working and living conditions of migrant workers in
• WalesHighlight examples of good practice with respect to community relations; employment policies and service delivery

Black Environment Network (BEN) - an introduction to our work

BEN is established to promote equality of opportunity and full participation by ethnic minorities in the built and natural environment. We use the word 'black’ symbolically, recognising that the black communities are the most visible of all ethnic groups. We work with black, white and other ethnic minorities. Our work encompasses working with migrant workers.

Our work takes an integrated approach, so that the work of opening out the opportunities for participation within the environmental and heritage sectors means linking and making full use of the meaning of these opportunities in a social, cultural and economic context. Importantly we focus on aspects of life of central significant to ethnic minorities such as identity, a sense of belonging, social exclusion and social cohesion, job opportunities, education and lifelong learning, health and well-being, quality of life.

We do this by reaching out to ethnic minorities, introducing what is on offer and linking the opportunities and resources to their expressed needs. This therefore works powerfully in what may otherwise be seen as merely trying to get visitors to environmental and heritage sites.

Our work has borne out the very specific and unique opportunities. Most of the time, what is on offer within the environmental and heritage sectors includes free access to wonderful places with historic meanings and free activities that promote learning and a widened vision of job opportunities. It also puts those new to this country in touch with a constituency that is idealistic and holistic in terms of ethos and therefore, open to engagement with ethnic minorities. BEN has very unique expertise. Working with ethnic minorities requires not only goodwill but knowledge and expertise. BEN’s main role is in supporting both sides - vulnerable groups and environmental personnel who may lack confidence in working with each other. This engagements lay down the basis that allow isolated members of ethnic minorities, especially those unrepresented by community groups (for example in rural areas) to be in touch with members of the mainstream community through pleasure - no better way to start. Once these connections are made, they can be built on with an emphasis on any number of themes - as mentioned identity, a sense of belonging, social exclusion and social cohesion, job opportunities, education and lifelong learning, health and well-being, quality of life.

Experiences of migrant workers and their families

Are you aware of barriers experienced by migrant workers and their families in accessing public services? What are the key reasons for these barriers?

The environmental and heritage sectors include services in terms of the environmental and heritage sites (some free and some with entry fees) provide for pleasure and learning as well as many free activities and events. Volunteering opportunities can lead to new skills, with widened opportunities in terms of jobs and social engagement.

• The difficulties for migrant workers and their families are:
• New to this country, they simply do not know what is on offer
• The lack of established representative organisations, especially in rural areas, that are culture specific that can become a link to these opportunities
• Being strangers to a new country they do need introduction, explanation and facilitation in how they can use the opportunities on offer in a range of lives to address their aspirations and concerns : identity, a sense of belonging, social exclusion and social cohesion, job opportunities, education and lifelong learning, health and well-being, quality of life.
• Lack of promotional and information materials tailored to newcomers and in their own languages to kick start engagement

Can you provide any examples of innovative practice in ensuring that public         services are accessible and barriers can be overcome?

Black Environment Network (BEN) is the nationally and internationally recognised leader in the field of enabling ethnic environmental participation. We have done many projects over the years and on our website www.ben-network.org.uk, under the Resources section, you will find all our publications downloadable free. These publications and resources share good practice, with guidelines for the environmental and heritage sectors as well as resources aimed at ethnic community groups.

BEN’s innovation, in a nutshell, is about working in an integrated way although the focus is participation within the opportunities offered by the environmental and heritage sectors. As appropriate, other sectors are drawn in in a very substantial way. See for example our publication "Informal Learning Partnerships for engaging with ethnic communities”

At the present time, the proportion of our work with migrant workers and their families are not very much, but the potential is enormous because our work with ethnic minorities are applicable to working with migrant workers and their families. We are in the process of applying for funds to expand our work with migrant workers as it has been identified as an area of need. Some of our most recent high illustrated publications include:

• 'Love the Countryside, Work for the Countryside’
• '’Working Together to Increase Employment - Routes to jobs in the Environment and Heritage Sectors’
• 'Visits to National Parks - a guide for ethnic communities’
• Fun and Learning in the Environment - What Environment and Heritage 'Organisations Offer

Importantly these publications are not simply distributed. They are used as part of a programme of facilitation and organisation of activities in a socially and culturally appropriate way respecting the wishes and needs of the ethnic groups that we work with. In a family context it is about a welcome - so very important at the present time because of the ill feeling and fears engendered by bad press. The reassurance given by being in touch with people of goodwill who introduce them to what is here in terms of wonderful landscape, heritage etc. is the best introduction to people language and culture.

Can you provide examples of good and poor working and housing conditions?

No, these is not the area of our expertise. However our work can ameliorate the impact of poor working and housing conditions by creating a balance within the lives of migrant workers. Being introduced to and having somewhere pleasurable to go is important because most migrant workers enter this country with the lowest ranking jobs, poorly paid and at the same time sending money home to their country of origin

Please provide examples of the English and Welsh language provision for migrant workers and their families in your area. How accessible and appropriate is this provision?

No. This is not an area of our expertise.

What opportunities do migrant workers and their families have to build friendships and social networks between themselves and within local communities? Please provide details of any formal or informal groups or networks in your area.

As already stated, the work of BEN is relevant here. We are a network for ethnic minorities that keeps expanding across the UK. We are over 700 strong in terms of membership. Many of our members are themselves networks, so the linking is enormous. However, the situation around migrant workers, in particular the influx of New Europeans is a new phenomenon, and while our expertise is there to work effectively with them, how it plays out is still in progress.

The impact of economic migration on local communities

��What are the resource implications for public service providers in areas where a significant proportion of the population are migrant workers and their families?

Resources implications will be proportional to the % of their new presence.

��What are the advantages and challenges for people in local communities in which migrant workers live and work?

At the same time it has to be remembered that they generate new income for the local economy and this message has to go out to the local community strongly. Perhaps this message has to be quantified and purposefully promoted to ensure a good basis for new community relations.

Intercultural interest needs to be nurtured within a positive framework within which people can be facilitated to meet, with language support and pleasurable shared activities. This is where, imaginatively bringing different issues like social cohesion and environmental and heritage activities together can be so fruitful. If other cultures can be experienced as interesting and enriching rather than threatening, the impact can be very positive.

The regulatory framework

• How does current legislation, such as the Gangmasters Licensing Act 2004, work in practice?
• This is not an areas in which we have expertise
• To what extent is the current legislation enforced?
• This is not an areas in which we have expertise

Examples of good practice

Please provide examples of good practice, including:

��projects or initiatives which have enhanced community relations

The BEN GWLAD Project - working to open up learning opportunities in the environmental and heritage sectors for ethnic minorities (linking health, social cohesion, learning, quality of life, identity, introduction to British culture, partnership building within the mainstream)

The BEN Curiad Claon Cymru Project - increasing employment opportunities and countering social isolation  for ethnic minorities through engagement within the environmental and heritage sectors for ethnic minorities (facilitating contact with environmental and heritage activities, nurturing interest and understanding, access to knowledge and skills, volunteering, aspiration for jobs within these sectors, mainstream partnership building)

Good employment policies and workplace initiatives

Both projects have worked with mainstream environmental and heritage sectors on the employment front, linking into their social justice, equal opportunity structures in relation to employment and workplace

The BEN GWLAD Project - working to open up learning opportunities in the environmental and heritage sectors for ethnic minorities

The BEN Curiad Claon Cymru Project - increasing employment opportunities and countering social isolation  for ethnic minorities through engagement within the environmental and heritage sectors for ethnic minorities

Both projects included aspects such as supporting mainstream organisations (in the heritage and environment sectors in the main but also with significant partners linking into our programme of activities. For example county council, educational institutes, art galleries and museums, Local Health Board),  with shaping social justice plans, providing training re working effectively with ethnic groups, building connections with ethnic minorities, promoting job opportunities, putting placements and other support re jobs into place, partnership development between ethnic groups and these organisations to enable future working.

��accessible and appropriate public services

The BEN GWLAD Project - working to open up learning opportunities in the environmental and heritage sectors for ethnic minorities

The BEN Curiad Claon Cymru Project - increasing employment opportunities and countering social isolation  for ethnic minorities through engagement within the environmental and heritage sectors for ethnic minorities

These are repeated again here because of the innovative integrated approach that BEN takes. This integrated approach frames single sector activities in such a way that other sectors are drawn in, resulting in activities that are rich, multifaceted and linked to a range of life concerns and interests that motivate ethnic minorities and their families to continue to engage and develop in the way they want.

Within these projects for example have been main themes such as access to health information, and the need for interpretation services in the health related services.

Suggestions

What action should be taken to improve the life experiences of migrant workers and their families and the communities in which they live and work?

BEN can be used as a key to addressing barriers to engagement and building confidence in participation by migrant workers in addressing a range of life issues including identity, a sense of belonging, social exclusion and social cohesion, job opportunities, education and lifelong learning, health and well-being, quality of life.

BEN can be very cost effectively funded to address a range of life concerns and interests to improve the life experience of migrant workers and their families and the communities in which they live and work. BEN can expand its work re:

• Facilitating connections by migrant workers with the mainstream population through the use of what the environment and heritage sectors offer for free in terms of pleasurable sites and activities, and access to new knowledge, skills and widened job opportunities, and links to a range of life interests and concerns of the integrated approach (bringing together social, cultural, environmental and economic concerns) that BEN has demonstrated to be so important and successful in addressing fundamental life issues for ethnic minorities including migrant workers and their families.
• Training and supporting ethnic/migrant workers to organise and form into effective representative groups that can carry on what BEN has enabled them to do. BEN then withdraws, perhaps coming back in for occasional advice.
• Training and supporting mainstream organisations to open up what they offer to migrant workers and their families. Once this is in place, BEN withdraws and they can carry on what is already notionally within their remit - to be open to everyone.
• Help mainstream organisations and ethnic/migrant groups to gain the skill of visualising and designing activities that address a whole range of life interests and concerns through using the many free opportunities within the programmes of activities and sites within the heritage and environmental sectors.
• Facilitate intercultural activities between ethnic/migrant groups, local community members and local community and mainstream organisations to provide an initial welcome, and nurture connections to become meaningful and enriching mutually beneficial partnerships. Support to draw in resources from existing grant schemes and other mainstream expertise will also be key to this.

BEN would welcome an opportunity to discuss the contents of this input. We are also sending hard copy publications to illustrate some of what we have achieved.