Terms of Reference

Purpose

To jointly and effectively address the needs of asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers living in Swindon.

Objectives

To discuss, share and act upon information of relevance to asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers:

• To highlight gaps in service provision
• To avoid duplication of resources
• To hear the voice of asylum seekers and refugees living in Swindon
• To keep members up to date with changes to the legislative framework
• To provide a mechanism where issues identified can be raised with strategic agencies, local and regional and national

Structure and Accountability

The forum is a multi-agency group made up of representatives from a range of local, regional and national agencies, concerned with the needs of asylum seekers, refugees and migrant workers living in Swindon.

The forum members are responsible for bringing their expertise into a multi-agency setting and reporting back to their agencies.

The forum broadly clusters its work around themes:

• Housing
• Employment
• Education
• Health
• Interpreting and translation

Sub-groups meet irregularly between forum meetings to address particular issues in more detail as and when they arise. The forum:

• Receives reports from the Migrant Workers Partnership Group
• Receives reports from Refugee Voice (information and advice sessions for asylum seekers and refugees)
• Invites speakers to talk about issues of relevance to asylum seekers and refugees
• Receives reports from each member organisation

Swindon Borough Council's Citizen Engagement Manager chairs the forum, and its Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Community Development Officer manages the activity of Refugee Voice.

The forum’s secretariat services are provided by Swindon Borough Council.

Membership

Open to representatives of all local, regional and national service providers including:

• Swindon Borough Council:
  - Community Directorate
  - Environmental Health
  - Housing
  - Adult Social Care
  - Children Services
• Swindon Primary Care Trust:
  - Walk-in Centre - Manager
  - Patient Liaison Services (PALS) - Manager
• Wiltshire Police - Community Safety Officer
• Home Office Immigration Service
• Border and Immigration Agency
• South West Regional Assembly
• Swindon Job Centre Plus
• Swindon College
• New College
• Richmond Fellowship
• British Red Cross International Tracing and Messaging Service - Programme Manager
• International Organization for Migration
• Accommodation providers:
  - Clearsprings Management Ltd
  - Astonbrook Housing Association
• Children’s Information Service
• Community organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers:
  - Harbour Project
  - Swindon Asian Women’s Group
  - Swindon Somali Association

Meetings

Meetings will take place bi-monthly, with sub-groups meeting as and when required.

Further Details/Contact

If you would like to know more about the forum and its make up, please contact.

Kate Rowe
Citizen Engagement Manager
Learning & Engagement Team
Directorate of Community
Premier House
Station Road
Swindon
SN1 1TZ

Tel: 01793 466505
E-mail: krowe@swindon.gov.uk