04 December 2003

Refugee projects to gain £2m in funding

More than 40 local initiatives to help people given refugee status to integrate, work and participate in UK society will receive nearly £2 million in government assistance, the Home Office announced today.

The projects, which range from a programme helping female refugees in London to move into training, education and work to a Glasgow-based initiative linking up refugees with English tutors, have received grants totalling £1,899,666 from the Home Office Challenge Fund.

The Fund was introduced in 2001 to support local projects helping those who have been granted asylum in the UK, having fled persecution, to integrate into their new communities. Projects supporting asylum seekers are not eligible for funding.

Initially a three-year scheme, the Home Office also announced today that it plans to continue the Challenge Fund for "the foreseeable future".

Home Office Minister, Beverley Hughes, said: "These are people who have been forced to flee persecution in their home countries and it is in all our interests to help them integrate, work and contribute to our communities.

"The initiatives we are funding will help achieve that by giving refugees the opportunity to learn new skills, speak English and access the job market."

Ivelina Metchkarova-Taylor, who runs an initiative for refugees in Yorkshire and Humberside, which has received renewed Challenge funding, said: "The Home Office Challenge Funding has enabled the Yorkshire & Humberside Consortium to develop an innovative citizenship project.

"We provide a course for new refugees in the region, helping them to integrate and contribute to the community. Our students want to learn about culture and traditions, understand how things work in the UK and give something back to the community."

(gmcg)