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Councillors should “myth bust” and spread positive messages about immigration
29/01/2025
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The difference between “asylum seekers” and “refugees” was highlighted during presentation
Councillors need to “myth bust” and spread positive messages about immigration: that was the request made to members of Cherwell District Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee at a meeting last night (Tuesday).
The Committee heard from Katie Trussell, the council’s Head of Resettlement, who sought to clarify the facts in a number of areas surrounding immigration. In response to the statement that the UK is already doing more than its fair share, the Committee were told that the UK isn’t ‘overrun’ with refugees and at the end of 2023 they made up around 0.6 percent of the population.
Translator, college lecturer, judge, dentist, seamstress and chef are amongst the professions of the refugee families the council is currently working with.
The difference between “asylum seekers” and “refugees” was highlighted, with the council team only working with refugees, who have been granted the right to stay here.
Asylum seekers, who are awaiting a decision on their right to be in the country, remain the responsibility of the government. Nicola Riley, the Assistant Director for Wellbeing and Housing told the meeting: “We have very little knowledge or information about the asylum seekers in our patch.”
The council created its Resettlement Team early in 2023. Members of the team currently include three qualified social workers and a Community Sports Activator.
Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed to recommend to the council’s Executive that training on the council’s resettlement work became mandatory for all councillors.
The presentation to councillors can be seen here.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam