LORECA is dedicated to involving refugees directly in the development of its work. From 2006 – Spring 2008, LORECA is operating a Reference Group, comprised of refugees and asylum seekers living in London. The role of the Reference Group is to review and comment on employment, training and enterprise issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers in London at a strategic, policy and operational level.
The group is facilitated by Refugee Assessment Guidance Unit (RAGU). The group was originally drawn from Advisory Groups set up for two Equal (Round II) Development Partnerships: EASI (Empowering Asylum Seekers to Integrate) and PRESTO (Partnership for Refugee Employment through Support, Training and Online learning). The EASI & PRESTO partnerships completed their work in December 2006, but the Reference Group remains active into Spring 2008.
Participants have received training to empower them to respond to the consultations they have participated in, and they have had a unique opportunity to help set the agenda for London around employment training, and enterprise issues affecting refugees. The ideas and feedback generated by the Reference Group have been fed into policy makers and practitioners as part of LORECA's commitment to advocacy for a better employment environment for refugees in London.
This activity will come to an end in Spring 2008, as LORECA undergoes its business planning process, and reflects on future options for consultation. For more information on the work of the Reference Group, please contact Stephanie Schreiber (stephanie@loreca.org.uk).