Bristol’s Effort to Improve Governance, Service Delivery, & Protection of Migrants & Refugees

United Kingdom (UK)

Dec 1

Written By Sophie van Haasen

Bristol City Council

Mayor

Councillor Henry Michallat

Start of Project

01/01/2019

End of Project

to be confirmed

Overview

In 2019, Bristol joined the pilot phase of the Call to Local Action and committed to ensuring inclusive economic integration and development of migrants and refugees, preventing and countering discrimination and xenophobia, and improving local governance of migration and forced displacement.

Among other efforts, key actions included establishing a cross-city Taskforce on Migrant Inclusion with other UK cities, developing a local communications campaign promoting inclusive local identity and preventing discrimination and xenophobia, and establishing bespoke programs to facilitate refugee entrepreneurship, local business, and civil society.

In response to the COVID crisis, Bristol took more than 300 homeless people into emergency accommodation. Within this group were several migrants with “No Recourse to Public Funds” status, which prevents them from accessing mainstream State support. Bristol therefore set up a “One City Task Force” made up of representatives from Local Government, civil society, and others to identify the necessary support and longer-term pathways for everyone in emergency accommodation, including migrants and those seeking asylum.

Realised Impact (As of March 2022)

These efforts have brought greater strategic alignment across sectors on migrant inclusion, greater collaboration between the Local Government, business, universities, and civil society, identification of key areas for improvement, and catalysing new initiatives for the same. New businesses have been established by refugees, and existing businesses have expanded in terms of staff numbers, turnover, and profit, resulting in wider economic benefits for communities. There has been large-scale public engagement with the campaign through the dissemination of videos and opportunities for interaction and participation.