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Gateway Protection Programme

In 2004 the Home office agreed to accept up to 500 refugees a year under an international resettlement programme run by the UN’s refugee agency. Under the scheme some of the world’s most vulnerable refugees, including many who lived in refugee camps for years, are offered a safe route to a country where they are granted indefinite leave to remain.

In October 2004, Bolton Council in Greater Manchester, became the second local authority in the UK to agree to accept 83 refugees from war-torn Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2005-6 Bury joined the scheme and another group from Sudan arrived in both towns.

A small team of resettlement workers from Refugee Action are supporting the refugees during their first year in the town, giving support and assistance with everything from learning about their new community to accessing training, employment and education. The team works in partnership with local statutory and voluntary organisations to provide access to existing services and develop awareness of refugee and asylum seeker issues.

Community development is a strong element of the team’s work, leading to the formation of a community group, women’s group and a football team all led by the refugees themselves. The group has also gone on day trips, learning about the history and culture of the region. Refugee Action is also planning to work with tenants’ associations to get the local community involved in the scheme. 

Both towns have now signed an agreement to accept five more groups over the next four years.

Real lives:

Bolton - our safe haven

Peter Yoak, his wife Joyce, and their four children had lived in a Ugandan camp for nine years after fleeing Sudan when civil war broke out.

The farmer was constantly in fear of his life and the safety of his family, who were under constant threat by Ugandan rebels.

Peter (32), said: "We had a good life in Sudan, but then the war started and people were being killed in front of me. We had to leave - we were in very real danger. Even in the camps we were not safe. The Ugandan rebels would come to find us. We could not sleep at night. We were all very frightened and living day to day.

"But I had to be strong for my family and I promised they would have a future, even though I did not know what was going to happen. I prayed all the time.”

Mr Yoak is now training to become a social worker after he arrived in Bolton in February 2006. "I was so happy when my family was accepted on to the Gateway Project,” he said. “England is a special place and the people of Bolton have made us feel so welcome. It was hard to adapt at first because it was difficult to forget what happened, but for the first time I feel that my children have a future.

“When you come to a new country, unless you have someone who can direct you to the market, to the bus station and help you find out about education and your new society it is hard to integrate.

“Our resettlement worker has been very important. When we arrived he showed us around and has helped us with so many issues so that now we feel a part of society. The day trips have helped us learn about Bolton and being together as a group means we can support each other and remember where we have come from.”

 

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