information > publications
Here follows a list of Refugee Action's publications and audio-visual resources.
For more information or to request a copy of a publication please contact our Stockwell office on 020 7735 5361 or e-mail
publications@refugee-action.org.uk
Most publications cost £5 to cover printing and postage costs. Maternity videos are £20 (incl postage and package).
General
Education, training and employment
Health
Women
Young people
Housing
Handbooks and directories
Voluntary return
(For advice leaflets and information go to asylum downloads)
General
Destitution in the asylum system in Leicester
June 2008
Commissioned by the Leicester Forum and co-ordinated by Refugee Action, this report shows that destitute asylum seekers in Leicester are being forced to sleep on the streets or rely on charities and friends for shelter.
The forum makes a number of recommendations to local and national government policy-makers and the voluntary and community sector in Leicester to try to tackle this crisis.
Destitution in the asylum system in Leicester
Refugee Action Annual Report 2006-07
Annual report giving comprehensive details of the agency's work in its 13 offices across England and full financial report for the period Apr 1 2006 to March 31 2007.
Refugee Action Annual Report 2006-07
The Destitution Trap: Research into destitution among refused asylum seekers in the UK
November 2006
National research commissioned by Refuge Action in January 2006 to explore the causes and effects of destitution among refused asylum seekers in the UK. The disturbing findings raise urgent questions about whether current government policy is sustainable. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in the future of the asylum system (130 pages).
The Destitution Trap: Asylum's untold story is a Briefing, based on the research, giving Refugee Action's recommendations for change (18 pages)
Full report (1.8mb)
Briefing (1mb)
Executive Summary and Recommendations
Request hard copies from Refugee Action.
Agency Report 2006
This report gives a summary of all Refugee Action's projects around the UK. It includes a selection of case studies from clients, staff and volunteers, showing how our work helps refugees and asylum seekers to build new lives.
Mobiles, Money and Mayhem: The facts and fibs about asylum
The Refugee Awareness Project has produced a myth-busting pocket guide which aims to put information at people’s fingertips so they can influence others. For real copies email nationalrap@refugee-action.org.uk or call 020 7654 0673 or download.
mobiles, money and mayhem national booklet
mobiles, money and mayhem East Midlands booklet
mobiles, money and mayhem South West booklet
mobiles, money and mayhem North West booklet
Working Together: Views of our Stakeholders
July 2006
This research, carried out by independent consultants Michael Bell Associates, shows a high level of satisfaction with Refugee Action, both as a partner and service provider. The vast majority (over 90 per cent) rated our services as good or excellent, and similarly our approach to partnership working. Stakeholders wished us to expand our training and information resources, and we are considering this.
Client Feedback
July 2006
This research, carried out by independent consultants Michael Bell Associates, shows that clients trust us, continue to rate our services very highly and, on virtually all measures, ratings had improved since the previous 2003 survey. However, clients’ personal situations and experiences of wider society, were generally worse than in 2003, with higher levels of abuse and fear of racial abuse reported, as well as higher rates of destitution and its associated problems. Also, an uncomfortably high proportion of clients were unhappy about their housing circumstances and we have been working on this.
Refugees Welcome Here
April 2006
Final report of the Refugees Welcome Here campaign, which was launched by a coalition of refugee organisations in Greater Manchester as a reaction against the negative portrayal of asylum seekers in the media.
Building New Lives in the Community: The Derwent Refugee Community Development Support Project
March 2006
Evaluation and end of project report for the Refugee Community Development Support Project in Derby.
Filling the Gaps: Services for refugees and asylum seekers in Derby
January 2006
A research project with Refugee Housing Association mapping services for refugees and asylum seekers.
Labour Lost: Refugees and employment
Report on the experience of refugees and asylum seekers in the North West with permission to work.
Labour Lost report
Labour Lost summary
In Tune with Detainees: conference report
18 October 2005
Conference following a pilot programme assessing the feasibility of bringing music into detention centres to enhance mental well-being.
Building New Lives: North West refugee development conference
Sept 2004
A report on conference aimed to build relationships between refugee-led groups and
the wider voluntary sector in the North West.
Building New Lives North West conference
Fleeing the Fighting - How conflict drives the search for asylum
June 2004
A report on war and conflict in refugee-producing countries produced by the Refugee Week Partnership.
Fugitive arts
May 2004
A report into arts and refugees in the South East commissioned by Refugee Action and Arts Council England.
Client Feedback on Refugee Action’s One Stop Services
December 2003
A survey was undertaken of users of Refugee Action’s asylum advice services to gain an up-to-date picture of the problems faced and an insight as to how services can be improved. The report summarises the findings and offers recommendations.
Book cover
Every tree has its roots
Every tree has its roots: Refugees from Vietnam and their children speak about here and there
Van Ly Ung, 2003
The book and the accompanying CD-ROM are products of the national Vietnamese Oral History Project and the accompanying joint Refugee Action and Museum of London pilot. The project was set up to record the memories and experiences of the Vietnamese living in the UK.
Refugees: The truth behind the fiction
S.Campbell, June 2002
The Experience of the Volunteer Programme at Cedars
Rachel Gosling, March 1997
Last Refugee – Elderly people from Vietnam in the UK
February 1987
Refugees from Vietnam in Hong Kong
March 1986
First Impressions
Interview by Colin Hodgetts, summary by Jane Shackman, 1983 (reprinted 1991)
Education, training and employment
Employing Staff Handbook
2008
A quick reference guide for refugee community organisations and other local groups who want to develop and pormote good practice in recruiting, employing and managing staff and volunteers.
Routes to Learning - report into Refugee Action's community education work for women in Leicester
February 2007
A thorough evaluation of the Routes to Learning community education run by Refugee Action in Leicester, teaching English to asylum seeker women in 2006. A useful tool for other agencies undertaking a similar project.
An Evaluation of the Horizons Project: Volunteering – A Bridge to Integration
June 2006
An interesting analysis showing the benefits that Refugee Action's Horizons projects brings. Horizons helps asylum seekers find volunteer placements and the research shows that this increases confidence, their ability to integrate and their future chances of employment.
Bolton Employment Project
January 2006
Summary of research on barriers to refugee employment in Manchester.
The professional capacity of nationals from the Somali regions in Britain
Alice Bloch and Gaby Atfield, May 2002
Research commissioned by Refugee Action and the International Organization for Migration.
Afghan nationals in the UK: Professional capacity and views on return
May 2002
Research commissioned by Refugee Action and the International Organization for Migration.
Lessons for a New Start – An education programme for adults from Bosnia - Herzegovina in a UK reception centre
Maureen Priddin, Frances Haynes, Helen Wilson and Ferid Kevric, 1997
Research into the Employment, Training, and Educational Needs of Refugees from Vietnam in Leeds and Bradford
March 1988
Lessons for a New Beginner – an education programme for refugees adults in a UK reception centre
Penny Dane, 1987
A training project to prepare Vietnamese and Chinese field staff to work with people from Vietnam resettled in the UK
Suzanne Bang and Rosalind Finlay, September 1982
Making the Links – a training workshop on social work and refugees
Jill Reynolds and Rosalind Finlay, 1982
Health
Better Mental Health for Refugees
Gillian Gibbons, September 2001
"…instead of medicine" – Bosnian mental health pilot project
Buffy McAfee, November 1998
This report examines a pilot project set up by Refugee Action to meet the unmet mental health needs of Bosnian refugees by increasing the community's knowledge and understanding of these needs and of the services available to them.
Health in Exile – the experience of refugees and evacuees in Leeds
Ruth Wilson, September 1998
Pregnancy and childbirth
Refugee Action and Maternity Health Links, February 1997
Video (49mins) and multilingual script (subject to availability) providing information and advice on pregnancy and childbirth for refugees and asylum seekers. Available in Arabic, Bangla, Bosnian, Cantonese, English, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Urdu and Vietnamese.
The Bosnian Medical Evacuee Project (95/96) – A summary of the work and organisation of Refugee Action’s support project
September 1996
Women
Hear My Voice: Refugee Women's involvement in integration.
Conference report, June 2006
Report on conference that brought together representatives from refugee communities and policy-makers to discuss the involvement of refugee women in integration adn to share ideas and good practice to inform future work.
I could use these skills to do something... : refugee women and the voluntary sector in Merseyside
Lynne Walker, Refugee Action , April 2006
A research report about working with refugee women in Merseyside to assess and boost their skills. Includes recommendations to the Home Office and guidelines for the voluntary sector working with refugee women.
I could use these skills - full report
I could use these skills - exec summary
Is it safe here? Refugee women's experiences in the UK
Hildegard Dumper, December 2002
Refugee Action ‘s unique research report that, for the first time, comprehensively documents refugee women’s experiences in the UK. The research findings informed our campaign Standing up for women’s safety.
Is it safe here? Executive summary
Is it safe here? Full report
Refugee women in East Sussex: A report into the experiences of refugee women in East Sussex
Manal Ahmed, April 1996
Domestic Violence Against Women from the Vietnamese Refugee Community: Implications for Housing and Other Services
Jayne Humm, March 1998
Experience and Conditions of Refugees in Cambridge and Women Refugees in Brighton and Hove
Jayne Humm, 1994
Young people
Peer Mentoring Toolkit
This Toolkit has been produced so that the Peer Mentoring Project at Refugee Action may share its learning with other youth and refugee agencies or services who wish to take on such a project to support young refugees. The kit is downloadable from the Peer Mentoring section of our website.
Study of Young Single Vietnamese in Britain
Chris Mougne, 1986
Housing
The Unheard Community – Housing conditions and needs of refugees from Vietnam living in London
John Bell and Lola Clinton, August 1992 and April 1993
Housing and Vietnamese Refugees
A bibliography of significant sources concerning the housing conditions and needs of Refugees from Vietnam living in London
Voula Tantanozi, October 1992
Handbooks and directories
Directory for Arts and Refugees - South East England
The Directory for Arts and Refugees: South East England is made up of sections on arts organisations (mainstream and community), refugee community organisations, local authority arts officers and a section on funding for refugees and the arts. It also includes a comprehensive list of the funding available to both community arts projects and professional artists in the South East, excluding London.
This directory is part of the work of the South East Regional Arts and Culture Refugee Project run by Refugee Action and funded by Arts Council England, South East.
[This Directory is currently being updated. Contact Refugee Action in Stockwell.]
Directory of refugee-led groups in Bolton, Bury, Salford, Wigan and Greater Manchester
Refugee Action, April 2006
Refugee Community Organisations Directory
Employing workers – a handbook for refugee community organisations
Loan-Anh Nguyen, 1996 (2nd edition)
Available in Bosnian, English and Somali
Guidelines for running a community association
Loan-Anh Nguyen and Phillip Williams, 1995
Available in Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, English, Farsi, Kurdish and Somali.
Contracts guidance - a handbook for refugee community organisations
Jane Belman, Huong Nguyen and James Richardson, 1994
Available in Chinese, English and Vietnamese.
Methods for managing – a handbook for community associations of refugees from Vietnam
Van Ly Ung and Lois Graessle, 1990
Available in Chinese, English and Vietnamese.
We come as a friend – Towards a Vietnamese model of social work
Suzanne Bang, 1987
Voluntary return
Choices conference 2005
In February 2005 Choices held its first national conference. A total of 85 delegates from 45 organisations across England participated in a series of workshops and presentations by the International Organisation for Migration, the Home Office, the Horn of Africa project, the Somali community and UNHCR who also supported the conference. Download the conference report:
"Whenever I see another mum bringing her children to school, I smile. But I am empty inside because I have lost my own children."