‘Our Liverpool’ programme launches to support new arrivals

Liverpool City Council has launched ‘Our Liverpool’, a programme to help migrants and refugees settle into their new city and get to know their neighbours.

The £2.4 Million funding from the Home Office to will enable the local authority to improve and increase capacity of services for asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants to access the support they are entitled to and to live independent healthy lives and contribute to their communities, such as housing, education and health services.

The Our Liverpool programme sets out to enable refugees to obtain appropriate benefits and safe housing freeing up emergency accommodation for the wider community. Employment services will support migrants to access employment opportunities, easing pressures on job centres and family learning support to enable migrant children to access education more readily.

Across the city, Our Liverpool will include initiatives to tackle migrant rough sleeping, provide specialist educational support to migrant children to free up pressure on schools and to ensure that all children are given immediate access to learn, which will help with integration. ESOL (English for Speakers of another Language) will be provided to enable migrants to use services more effectively.

Many of the projects supported by Our Liverpool will provide English language lessons to allow new residents to contribute to and feel part of their communities. They will also include education around British values and social norms, breaking down cultural barriers. Local communities will have the opportunities to connect with their new neighbours.

Cabinet member for Communities and Partnerships, Cllr Liz Parsons said: “The launch of Our Liverpool is something that we’ve been really excited for. Ensuring that we have adequate provisions for asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants is absolutely essential.

“Liverpool is a city that is known for its welcoming and friendly nature, we want to make sure that people coming to our city feel supported in every way possible and to know that we want them to have the very best future imaginable in our city.

“Having the provision to be able to provide services solely for asylum seekers and refugees will undoubtedly increase the capacity of mainstream services, and allow us to tailor the support we give to vulnerable migrants.”

Liverpool Waterfront