Northern Refugee Centre

Improving services and opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
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NRC Women

0114 241 2783

 

Improving access to childcare for asylum seekers and refugees


The issue

 It is currently rare for services delivered by the voluntary and statutory sector for refugees and asylum seekers to be accompanied by childcare provision. Such services include: adult education/ESOL; volunteering; advice and guidance; and training.  
•   Why does childcare need to be provided for refugees and asylum seekers?
The following factors make it acutely difficult for refugees and asylum seekers to source and provide childcare for themselves when accessing services: affordability, a lack of informal friendship or family networks, language, and a lack of relevant knowledge.

•   Why is childcare not commonly provided by organisations alongside their services?
There is a wide-spread lack of awareness within organisations and bodies in the voluntary and statutory sector about the importance of childcare provision, and an absence of expertise and best practice in providing childcare for refugees and asylum seekers. There are also discrepancies between funders as to the extent to which they recognise childcare as a core cost of service provision.

•   What is the effect of the lack of childcare provision?
Refugees and asylum seekers with primary childcare responsibilities are excluded from a significant portion of mainstream service provision. This creates a significant barrier to integration; it hinders personal development; is a barrier to those with leave to remain from gaining employment (Refugee Women’s Association, 2006); and can cause severe isolation and mental health problems. The absence of childcare provision has a highly disproportionate impact on refugee and asylum seeker women because it is women who overwhelmingly have primary childcare responsibilities.


The Solution
  • The NRC strongly recommends that organisations and agencies working with refugees and asylum seekers provide childcare alongside their services. 
  • Childcare should be viewed as a core cost of service provision.
  • The NRC has produced a Childcare Policy that organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers can consult and adapt/adopt. To download the NRC Childcare Policy click here for main policy and Appendix.
  • The NRC is currently seeking to carry out a one-year project to research and advocate on the issue of childcare provision for refugees and asylum seekers. The NRC is particularly interested in seeking European partners for this work. For more information please contact Jim Steinke (Chief Executive of the NRC) on 0114 241 2731.
 
 Reg. Charity No. 1078816 Co. Limited by Guarantee No. 3872439 Imm. Advice OISC Ref: N200100496