Our hosted Strategic Migration Partnership (SMP) team, is going from strength to strength.
They are in the process of mobilising the new large-scale AMIF funded Well-being and Work for Refugee Integration Project, which runs until December 2022, to facilitate more refugees moving from benefits into employment. This is delivered in partnership with nine organisations across the region, with match funding coming from councils who have supported the refugee resettlement programme. The SMP team are also finalising work on the current (Controlling Migration Fund) Roma Parallel Lives project.
The Covid-19 situation has highlighted a number of ongoing and new needs and challenges for the communities the SMP team is engaged with across the East of England’s geography, (e.g. migrant workers, refugees, and asylum seekers).
The SMP team are closely involved in regional and national discussions about future support programmes, as well as ensuring current offers, such as skills training and language support are tailored to the “new normal”.
The team continue to actively champion and pursue other grant and research opportunities in support of East of England councils and their communities, and are viewed nationally as a highly effective and expert team in this field.