The Migration and Resettlement Team was launched in September 2022 in response to changing migration patterns and the need to rebuild and strengthen networking and collaboration after the impacts of Covid. The team brings together a wide range of skills, experience, and expertise within the council, enabling us to develop a more integrated, long-term approach to supporting the asylum seekers, refugees, and other migrants who are the focus of our work.
The Migration and Resettlement Team is made up of four smaller teams that work together closely.
Supporting People Seeking Asylum
Our Migration and Resettlement Team is working as part of a wider collaboration to support adults and young people living in Devon who are seeking asylum. The Home Office has opened several hotels in Devon to accommodate asylum seekers who are destitute, and we have helped to pull together a partnership around each hotel community to try to meet everyone’s needs starting with the basics such as clothing, language, and health support, through to finding school places and offering meaningful things for people to do (as adult asylum seekers generally are not allowed to work). We are also working with our regional partners and local District Councils to find more suitable accommodation for people while their claims for asylum progress.
Further information: angela.welch@devon.gov.uk
Resettlement
DCC’s Resettlement Team oversees the local implementation of a range of UK Government Resettlement programmes from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan. Further information about each programme supported can be found at: https://www.devon.gov.uk/migration-and-resettlement/resettlement/ . We also provide support and assistance to Community Sponsorship Groups who are seeking to welcome and support a resettled family in their local community.
Contact: refugeeresettlement@devon.gov.uk
ESOL and Community Engagement
Our team works to improve the quantity and quality of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes available to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant workers across Devon. We work closely with English language learning providers from all sectors: Learn Devon, FE colleges, voluntary sector organisations, and private language schools. We can help with finding suitable classes, advice and support for volunteer teachers, and access to teaching and learning resources.
The other strand of our work, linked to our efforts to support collaboration and networking among ESOL providers, is focused on improving cross-cultural and cross-sector engagement and understanding.
Contact: ESOL@devon.gov.uk.
Website: https://www.devon.gov.uk/migration-and-resettlement/support-in-devon/learning-english-in-devon/
Community Bridging
The Community Bridging Team supports families and individuals who are resettling in Devon having left their home country because their lives are at risk. We offer assistance with health and wellbeing, understanding cultural differences, finding community resources, finances and benefits, education, employment, parenting and supporting people without recourse to public funds.
Contact: communitybridgingteam@devon.gov.uk
Homes for Ukraine
We work together with our District partners to ensure government guidelines are followed to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for those leaving Ukraine and moving to the UK. This includes maintaining and updating the Government’s database for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, completing DBS interviews and checks, and assisting guests, sponsors and districts with any queries.
Contact: ukraineresettlement@devon.gov.uk