- Overview
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The safety of refugees has come under significant strain in recent years. Recent policy developments have led to the closure of 50 Asylum Hotels and organisations dedicated to safeguarding refugees are currently navigating a complex landscape, significantly influenced by recent legislative changes and an evolving global context. This landscape is notably marked by the introduction of the Illegal Migration Act in July 2023, raising concerns about access to asylum and the implications for those seeking refuge in the UK. This act, which bars individuals who arrive irregularly from presenting refugee protection or other human rights claims, represents a pivotal shift in the UK’s approach to asylum and refugee support. Despite these changes, charities local councils and schools have continued to make progress in providing comprehensive support for all refugees, aiding in linguistic and mental health provisions. This commitment to continuous and sustainable safeguarding has been pivotal in highlighting points of improvement and success in supporting those who are vulnerable. It has ensured programmes are updated and actions are taken to provide a carefully reinforced path for refugees.
- According to the Refugee Council, while asylum seekers receive housing support from the Home Office, this assistance ends almost immediately after they are granted refugee status, leading to significant risks of homelessness and destitution.
- The Refugee Council also reported a decline in the number of people receiving protection through resettlement schemes, with only 766 individuals granted such, a decrease of 45% from the previous year.
- A 2023 report by the National Audit Office revealed that around 30% of local authorities in England were consistently failing to report data on homelessness related to the Homes for Ukraine scheme to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
Join us at The Safeguarding Refugees Conference 2024 to engage with the latest safeguarding initiatives and policies being implemented across organisations and councils to support and empower refugees. The conference will address key challenges, including providing accessible and inclusive healthcare to refugees and asylum seekers, specialised support for female refugees and providing safe and secure housing for refugees. This is a vital opportunity for cross-sector collaboration, to learn from experts, and to build upon innovative approaches to enhance safeguarding policies for refugees.
Why Attend:
✓ Hear high-level keynotes on the latest initiatives at charities, councils, and schools from across the UK
✓ Learn from case studies showcasing best practice in protecting refugees from financial exploitation and physical abuse, training staff in safeguarding policy, and providing enhanced support through partnerships
✓ Network with senior colleagues from various sectors
✓ Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
NEW AND EXCLUSIVE TO YOUR
CONFERENCE PACKAGE – GE Insights:
This year’s conference package includes 12-months FREE access to GE Insights, our cross-sector learning resource of case study focused videos, articles, lived experiences and more (RRP £199). Gain unlimited access to our online platform when you purchase your conference ticket.
Key benefits include:
✓100s of Exclusive Case Studies – fingertip access to videos and articles covering all key sectors including Local Government, and ALL CPD certified
✓Key Sessions from All Our Conferences – gain valuable insights from our past, present, and future events (160+ pa)
✓Articles and Interviews – learn from our network of expert speakers and contributors explore further the key discussions from the conferences
✓Additional CPD Hours – automatically earn more for everything you watch, read, and hear
✓Your Own CPD Dashboard – charts your progress, allows you to add notes, download your activities, and save/print an official CPD certificate
✓Personalised Homepage – only see the relevant content you need to save time
✓30+ New Uploads Each Month – we’re adding new content every week to ensure you stay engaged and informed all year round.
For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285
- Agenda
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Online Registration
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Chair’s Opening Remarks
Professor Nando Sigona, Chair of International Migration and Forced Displacement, University of Birmingham (Invited)
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Keynote: Developing Staff and Services to Enhance Outreach for Refugee Support
- Implementing specialised methods to overcome language barriers and establish effective communication with refugees
- Strategies for engaging local communities and refugee groups in a culturally sensitive and inclusive manner
- Tips on engaging with homeless refugees to rebuild support structures
- Engaging and training staff to provide a culturally aware environment with efficient techniques for wrap-around support
Rosie Tapsfield, Active Inclusion Officer and City of Sanctuary Officer at Newcastle City Council (CONFIRMED)
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Case Study: Cultivating a Culturally Responsive Safeguarding Environment
- Implementing policies that are sensitive to the cultural and linguistic needs of refugees and asylum seekers
- Empowering staff with cultural competency training to understand and respect cultural differences
- Techniques for overcoming language and cultural barriers to build and develop trust and effective communication
- Methods for continually assessing and improving safeguarding policies to ensure they remain effective and culturally sensitive
Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Local Authority Network Lead, City of Sanctuary (CONFIRMED)
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Case Study: Establishing Safe and Secure Housing for Refugees to Provide Stable Foundations
- Insights from a 3-year programme of research looking at housing transitions of refugees over 30 years
- Examination of the difficulties refugees face in finding safe and secure housing to allow the implementation of effective programmes
- Good practice that helps to secure stable housing, including working with the private rented sector and collaboration across services
- Key policy and practice recommendations to improve housing outcomes and reduce homelessness
Phillip Brown, Professor of Housing and Communities, University of Huddersfield (CONFIRMED)
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Questions and Answers
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Comfort Break
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Case Study: Bridging Gaps in Refugee Healthcare to Create a Collaborative and Inclusive Approach
- Insights into the impact of place and displacement to understand the specific mental health needs and challenges faced by refugees
- Breaking the structural barriers that refugees face to develop and create an inclusive health service sensitive to cultural and linguistic needs
- Sharing successful partnerships between health services, NGOs, and community groups to provide comprehensive care
- Navigating systemic barriers including legal and policy obstacles to enhance the support and safety of refugees
Hanna Kienzler, Professor of Global Health, Co-Director, ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, Kings College London (Invited)
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Case Study: Empowering Refugee Women by Providing a Holistic Approach to Support and Engagement
- Developing gender-specific support initiatives to provide legal advice, skill-building and mental health support
- Combating gender-based violence and ensuring access to critical health services to overcome obstacles faced by women
- Creating safe and inclusive spaces to allow the freedom to express oneself and connect with peers
- Introducing initiatives for skill-building and advocacy, enabling active participation in their communities and decision-making processes
- Sharing measurable outcomes of such programmes to help shape future goals and strategies
Andrea Vukovic, Deputy Director, Women for Refugee Women (Invited)
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Questions and Answers
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Lunch Break
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Case Study: Mitigating Financial and Physical Exploitation and Abuse Through Active Community Engagement
- Creating a welcome pack initiative to reduce refugees’ vulnerability to financial exploitation from the onset of their arrival
- Utilising community integration events to create safe spaces and protect refugees from unwanted encounters
- Strategies for empowering refugees through education and employment support to prevent workplace exploitation
- Sharing advocacy work in raising awareness about the risks of exploitation to refugees and community members
- Building collaborative efforts between charities, local authorities, and institutions to guarantee a coordinated response to refugee protection
Selina Hales, CEO, Refuweegee (invited)
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Case Study: Effective Safeguarding Practices for UASC to Enhance Their Safety and Well-being
- Sharing the specific vulnerabilities and needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to create a safeguarding structure
- Developing tailored safeguarding protocols to address the unique circumstances of each individual child and their experiences
- Addressing the legal complexities and policy barriers, including age assessments and access to services
- Reforming the support apparatus to encompass healthcare, education, and social integration for UASC
Allison Ward, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Named Doctor for Safeguarding and Looked After Children, CNWL (Camden) NHS Foundation Trust, RESPOND clinical co-lead, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CONFIRMED)
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Questions and Answers
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Breakout Networking: Enhancing Communication and Outreach for Refugee Safeguarding
This session allows you to share your experiences in communicating and connecting with communities, partner organisations and refugees in creating sustainable safe environments. It’s an opportunity to explore various approaches to developing a coordinated effort in safeguarding refugees. You will learn from other’s successes and challenges, fostering a collaborative discussion environment in community building and refugee safeguarding.
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Comfort Break
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Keynote: Navigating Shifts in Policy and Public Dialogue: The Future of Refugee Safety
- Addressing the effects of recent and future legislative changes to evaluate its impact on refugees’ rights and safety
- Strategies to effectively respond to the challenges posed by the new legislation, with an aim to provide legal advocacy and public awareness for refugees
- Tips on strengthening community and NGO alliances to protect refugees’ rights under the new legal framework
- Sharing tactics for effective policy engagement and advocacy to mitigate the adverse effects of current and future policies and promote a fairer asylum system
- Guidance on ensuring the UK’s responsibilities under international law are met to support refugees, ensuring their right to a fair and humane asylum process is upheld
Steve Valdez-Symmonds, Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme Director, Amnesty International (Invited)
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Keynote: Forging Collaborative Safeguarding Initiatives to Strengthen Refugee Protection
- Insights into creating multi-agency collaboration for comprehensive refugee safeguarding
- Techniques to identify and address potential gaps in the safeguarding process to ensure no refugee falls through the cracks
- Implementing adaptable and responsive safeguarding models to meet the diverse and changing needs of refugees
- Approaches for engaging with refugees to foster empowerment and community integration
Genevieve Caston, Director, RAI UK Programmes, International Rescue Committee (CONFIRMED)
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Questions and Answers
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Chair’s Summary and Close
*Programme subject to change
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- Who Should Attend
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Who Should Attend?
This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors. Delegates interested in this event will be people who work to safeguard refugees.
For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285
- Sponsorship
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Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact Chris and Ali today at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here and we will contact you.
Benefits of partnering with us include:
- Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
- Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
- Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
- Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
- Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
- Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
All packages include:
- Extensive branding – before, during, after the conference
- 15-20 min morning speaking session with Q&A
- Virtual stand to showcase your organisation, products, services, and solutions
- Opportunities to network during the day
- Half to full page ad in the E-Guide
- Banner ad on the virtual events platform
- Announcement post on LinkedIn
- Announcement within delegate communication
- 1-3 delegate places (worth upto £1,947)
- Access to the delegate details after the event
- Ongoing exposure through OnDemand (coming soon)
For more information and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here
- Pricing
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- Public Sector Rate: 449.00+VAT
- Voluntary Sector Rate: 379.00+VAT
- Private Sector Rate: 649.00+VAT
