An ecosystem of support is a complex system of individuals and organisations that influence how refugees and people seeking asylum access and experience the support available.
We asked Ben, Chief Executive of Caritas Shrewsbury, Patrick, Experts by Experience Coordinator, and David, Stockport hub coordinator about what they feel has been effective, see the video below:
“We believe that collaboration is not just helping the service provision, but it's also an assurance of sustainability, an assurance of a better future for refugee services in the wider region and also in the country”
David, Stockport Hub Coordinator
The Step Change Consortium, a collective of 10 organisations working together across Greater Manchester, have always recognised that a holistic approach to support for refugees and people seeking asylum was necessary. Working together with public, private, voluntary, faith-based and community actors provides that integrated support network needed. However, working together is not always easy. Coordination and collaboration take time, resources and willingness.
Reflecting on this, we asked different people involved in providing essential services and support whether this concentrated effort, through the Step Change Consortium, was making a difference for their work?
“One of the things that Step Change has really helped with has been joining up conversations across partners, and making sure that practical work in the hotels is linked together and is well supported. And importantly, it's not just about that hands-on work we do with one another, but that we can have a voice together. So we've been able to speak up and to escalate issues at local authority level, particularly for us in Manchester, but also to escalate issues with Greater Manchester Combined Authority.”
Ben, Caritas Shrewsbury
Firstly, what is an ‘ecosystem of support’?
The ecosystem of support is a complex system of individuals and organisations that influence how refugees and people seeking asylum access and experience the support available.
There are many people and organisations involved in shaping the experiences, systems and structures of support available to people seeking asylum and refugees. These include neighbours, peers, family members, community groups, religious groups, community based organisations, lawyers, national migrant-rights organisations, private sector organisations, elected officials, and public bodies (such as the NHS, schools, colleges, regional government, home office…etc.).
The consortium and Step Change Experts By Experience group identified key areas or ‘pillars’ of support which, if functioning well and accessible to all, would make up an ‘ideal’ ecosystem of support. It is not exhaustive.
The consortium is an important contributor within the ecosystem amongst many other actors, navigating where they can influence change and strengthen the ecosystem within a constantly changing socio-political environment. Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations are, in general, vulnerable to time-bound restricted funding agreements, which means that actors can be constantly shifting on what services they are able to offer and to whom. This strain of resources is then exacerbated by the constant changes in context. For example, organisations needed to address the Afghan and Ukraine crisis and the streamlined asylum questionnaire process caused a rush from the five nationalities involved to access an already strained legal advice sector. The consortium sees the importance of understanding the ecosystem of support as part of the wider socio-political context that is constantly changing. As no one group defines this ecosystem, the key is being connected and regularly communicating and working together on shared issues.
What has the Step Change consortium done to understand and strengthen the ‘ecosystem of support’ in GM and beyond?
Through working together, the consortium is able to have a more coordinated and stronger voice with local authorities, the Regional Strategic Migration Partnership (RSMP) and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). This has enabled better relationships, exchanges of information, understanding on asylum dispersal and access to decision-makers.
We spoke to colleagues at the RSMP about what they felt was the benefit of collaborative working across GM:
“In Greater Manchester, there has been a noticeable increase in collaborative efforts to support people seeking asylum and refugees. The Step Change consortium stands out as an example of this collaboration. By bringing together organisations across Greater Manchester, the consortium and its plans bring an exciting approach to providing essential services to those in need. This collaborative effort showcases the effectiveness of working together to address the challenges faced by those seeking asylum and refugees in our communities.
Step Change and RSMP engage on a regular basis, and it’s been great to see the work they have been doing. We have found that Step Change’s Report, 'I was Here for a Year', and its recommendations have been instrumental in informing conversations with partners in highlighting the challenges people are facing within Greater Manchester. Alongside Step Change’s Experts by Experience group, there has been collaboration to develop the work of an online directory and review the RSMP website for redesign. RSMP is enthusiastic about further collaboration and eagerly anticipates the ongoing impact of the consortium's work.”
Having a shared goal, understanding each organisation better and addressing challenges together is recognised by the consortium as creating a more supportive environment for refugees and people seeking asylum. Consortium members are aware of their different roles and where their influence lies, contributing in different ways. From the Step Change-led research report ‘I was here for a year… and I still didn’t know’: Improving the availability and access to support for people seeking asylum (2023), the consortium consolidated their core minimum offer, a list of services and support which they aim to provide in every borough of Greater Manchester.
David, who runs the network of organisations supporting refugees and people seeking asylum in Stockport expressed that this way of working “supports a serious collaborative network of organisations providing a different array of services at the different hotels and centres.”
David, Stockport Hub Coordinator
The consortium provides a mechanism to respond collectively where needed and this collaborative work has enabled stronger coordinated responses.
“One of the things that Step Change has really helped with has been joining up conversations across partners, and making sure that practical work in the hotels is linked together and is well supported. And importantly, it's not just about that hands-on work we do with one another, but that we can have a voice together. So we've been able to speak up and to escalate issues at local authority level, particularly for us in Manchester, but also to escalate issues with Greater Manchester Combined Authority.”
Ben, Caritas Shrewsbury
This coordinated approach has led to development of a referral platform, co-designed with the experts by experience group, for frontline practitioners and volunteers.
“The platform was designed to make sure that service users can be referred and signposted to the available organisations that have the capacity to provide the support to the people. So that shows that our organisations in Greater Manchester are making efforts to work more in collaboration to support the people they serve.”
Patrick, EBE coordinator
How has working together influenced others in the sector?
In addition, through these collaborations, Step Change has created spaces for the sector to come together and share information and learning with the wider sector, such as the co-hosted Step Change and GMCA Meeting, where 120+ people working across the asylum and refugee sector in Greater Manchester came together. The consortium, through better understanding their own ecosystem, are also supporting and influencing the wider sector, such as sharing experiences and knowledge with Bristol Refugee and Asylum Seekers Partnership on the referral platform, so they do not have to start from scratch.
Through working together, the consortium is able to have a more coordinated and stronger voice with Manchester City Council and other Local Authorities, the Regional Strategic Migration Partnership (RSMP) and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). This has enabled better relationships, exchanges of information, understanding on asylum dispersal and access to decision-makers.
