Including Emerging Communities

Refugee and asylum is one of the most contentious issues facing front line services today. Rarely a day goes by without yet another negative story of how a new wave of immigrants are placing additional pressure on already overstretched services.

Meanwhile people working in organisations rarely get the opportunity to learn the facts about the issues, let alone have a safe environment where they can explore their own feelings. Often, the first time an organisation comes into contact with people from emerging communities is when they turn up on their doorstep requesting assistance – what next?

PeaceMaker’s ‘Including Emerging Communities’ training develops organisations’ knowledge, skills and ability to engage with people from refugee and asylum seeking communities and better meet their needs. By dispelling myths in a safe environment, the training supports staff to understand the issues and make sense of this contentious subject. ‘Including Emerging Communities’ provides an opportunity to discuss and debate issues backed up by facts. Staff will not only develop a better personal understanding of the subject, they’ll go back to their workplace ready to engage positively with people from emerging communities.

Apathy, mistrust, apprehension or simply a lack of understanding will be replaced with an ability to really come alongside these communities and successfully engage with them. Most importantly, PeaceMaker will support organisations to meet the needs of emerging communities in an inclusive manner and not at the expense of services to established communities.