Campaigning Together

1

• Health - Refugee and Asylum Seekers Perspectives
• Poor physical and mental health (some but not
  all)
• Trauma (torture, persecution, violence)
• Lack of understanding of experiences (host
  population)
• Isolation (dispersal, fear of authorities,
  coping in
• new environment, loneliness, vulnerability)
• Depression (loss of familiar, loss of status,
• unfamiliarity with host cultural norms,
  experience of
• racism and discrimination in new environment)
• Communication barriers (difficulties in
• expressing problems and feelings
  (interpreters,
• advocates)
• Cultural difficulties (nationality, gender,
  age, nutrition)
• Unsure of services available (access to
  services)

Campaigning Together
2

• Professional Education and Working Requirements
• Recognition of
• Humanity and dignity (bereavement, grief, loss,
  vulnerability)
• Discriminatory practices and need to employ
  anti-discriminatory strategies
• Cultural, nutritional and gender awareness of
  individuals and groups (identity)
• Communication barriers - difficulties in
  accessing services
• Inter-generational awareness (status of carer)
• Need for provision of Holistic Care
  (psycho-social, health, spiritual needs)

3

• Health Policy initiative requirements
• Improving regulation of health provision and
  monitoring the impact to safeguard vulnerable
  adults
• Improving the physical and psychological health
  status of Refugee and Asylum Seekers (targeting)
• Addressing the environmental issues to maintain
  health status (health and housing)
• Raising cultural awareness across the UK to
  promote a sense of belonging (education, rights
  and responsibilities)
• Promoting partnership working (across boundaries)
• Empowering Refugee and Asylum Seekers voices to
  be heard

4

• Requirements from Organisations
• Lobbying Government Targeting for specific care
  needs
• Promote Refugee and Asylum Seekers inclusion in
  society (social cohesion)
• Provision of Interpreters, Advocates, Support for
  informal carers, Transport to services
• Forging partnerships (statutory, local community
  and voluntary provision)
• Establishment of social networks (integration not
  polarisation)
• Provision of Forums to express to share
  experiences and explain their needs (not our nor
  organisational perceptions their needs)
• Employment training (recognising experience,
  status, qualifications)