Strategic Migration Partnership
The East of England Local Government Association Strategic Migration Partnership is one of twelve UK partnerships funded by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). The Partnership was established in March 2000 to co-ordinate activities regarding the dispersal, accommodation and support of asylum seekers across the region and since April 2007, our role has been expanded to incorporate the wider migration agenda. We now work with partners to develop and support regional migrant worker networks, as well as continue our work with asylum seekers and refugees.
The Strategic Migration Partnership is a tiered regional network which encompasses grass roots organisations and a regional network of multi-agency fora and specialist and task groups which feed into the Migrant Worker Steering Group and the Asylum and Refugee Reference Group, each with a mechanism to feed into respective national bodies.
Regional Strategic Migration Partnership structure April 2013.pdf
What we do
Developing and supporting networks
Migrant Worker Steering Group (MWSG) leads on migrant worker issues within the partnership, and provides strategic leadership for interagency co-operation in addressing issues facing migrant workers, existing communities and businesses and the region as a whole. It has developed two distinct sub-groups to address the particular needs of migrants regarding housing and health. The main group's terms of reference are shown below:
Migrant Worker Steering Group Terms of Reference.pdf
Asylum and Refugee Reference Group is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary body that draws together a wide range of stakeholders to take a strategic lead in addressing issues facing asylum seekers, unsuccessful asylum seekers and refugees in the region. The group's terms of reference are shown below:
Reference Group Terms of Reference
Social Care Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) group comprises senior social services leads from the unitary and upper tier local authorities from across the East of England. They meet to share data, practice and details of how practice changes as a result of legal developments. They can initiate and develop projects and are working on delivering a 'Regional Protocol for UASC' which is to be taken up by social care teams, the police and UKBA. The group's terms of reference are below:
Social Care UASC Leads Terms of Reference
No Recourse to Public Funds group (NRPF) comprises senior social services leads and those from the voluntary sector who meet to share issues, practice and updates relating to people from abroad who have no recourse to public funds. The groups term's of reference are below:
NRPF Terms of Reference.pdf
Training
The East of England Strategic Migration Partnership organises and delivers training to partners who provide services to asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers. Follow the relevant link to find out details of forthcoming events:
http://www.eelga.gov.uk/events/Conferences.aspx
Developing resources
The Strategic Migration Partnership has produced resources to meet identified needs in support of partners in the east of England who work with refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers.
SMP resources
Funding
The Strategic Migration Partnership receives an annual grant from UKBA for the operation of the enabling function as described above. Payment of the grant is dependent on the achievement of key performance indicators agreed between the East of England LGA Strategic Migration Partnership and UKBA. The Business Plan is the principal means by which the Strategic Migration Partnership reports to UKBA on expenditure of the Grant.
For more information about the Strategic Migration Partnership contact either
Malgorzata Strona on 01284 758324 or email: malgorzata.strona@eelga.gov.uk or
Louise Gooch on 01284 758308 or email: louise.gooch@eelga.gov.uk