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8 Recommendations
8.1 Ensure there is clarity on the rights and entitlements of EU8 migrants in relation to key services, at a local and national level
As a number of key legislative changes following EU enlargement have altered the entitlements of EU8 migrants in Scotland, it is recommended that these changes in entitlement are communicated to frontline staff, in particular:
- Welfare rights
- Worker Registration Scheme
- Homelessness assistance and access to social housing
- The eligibility of EU8 nationals, who have no recourse to public funds and are destitute and/or vulnerable, to social assistance and support
8.2 Language support for EU8 nationals
It is crucial that there is a coordinated approach to ensure that English language tuition in Edinburgh meets demand. It is recommended that a review of current provision is undertaken. In addition, current providers could develop better communication systems so that the availability of English tuition across the city is clearer for prospective students at all levels.
Capacity planning should be undertaken to ensure that EAL (English as an Additional Language) provision in Edinburgh schools and nurseries meets demand.
8.3 Disseminate information and advice resources
A key recommendation is that comprehensive information resources are made available for EU8 nationals in the respective languages and distributed to relevant outlets. These resources should provide information on rights and entitlements; information on local services; and general advice relating to the information needs of this community, as identified in this study.
This information should be produced in a variety of formats, for example internet, leaflets and information packs. Multi-agency information events targeted at EU8 nationals could also be considered.
Specifically, it is recommended that information and advice relating to tenancy rights in the private rented sector should be provided by the local authority and made available to EU8 migrants.
8.4 Address the training needs for agencies in relation to EU8 nationals
Training on the rights, entitlements and social needs of EU8 nationals for managers and operational staff in public and voluntary sector services should be delivered as a matter of priority. This training should be complemented by the provision of written resources for staff in both statutory and voluntary sector agencies.
8.5 Provision of support to EU8 community groups
The support of self-help groups for EU8 nationals is also recommended. These groups should be represented in community planning and at a city-wide level through the Edinburgh Partnership's Race Equality Forum. The Race Equality Forum should deliver support to such groups, for example: facilitating access to funding streams; organisational support; and networking support. Attention should also be given to specific issues raised by community groups, e.g. harassment or neighbourhood tensions.
In particular, local community support groups for EU8 nationals and their families should be developed and encouraged, through Local Community Neighbourhood Planning fora. This should be done sensitively and without taking resources from the existing communities projects.
8.6 Improve monitoring and evaluation of EU8 nationals' use of services
Existing monitoring and evaluation systems in both statutory and voluntary sectors should be developed, to allow the level and type of presentations of EU8 nationals to be assessed on an on-going basis.
This information should be collated at a strategic level - for example, through local housing strategies, homelessness strategies and community care planning - to inform the future planning and development of services at a local and national level. It may be relevant to broaden monitoring to include information about Bulgarian and Romanian migrants.
8.7 Ensure community safety and access to legal services
Lothian and Borders Police should continue to provide an accessible service to EU8 nationals and establish connections with this community at a local and city-wide level, in collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council.
The use of the remote reporting facility should continue to be promoted - by using appropriate reporting sites and providing translation services to EU8 nationals - in order to provide the police with information on all aspects of criminality, and to facilitate this confidentially if requested.
The City of Edinburgh Council should ensure that EU8 migrants are provided with information about the Ethnic Minorities Law Centre.
8.8 Review Interpretation and Translation Services ( ITS)
The City of Edinburgh Council should assess whether the current Interpretation and Translation Service is sufficiently resourced to provide an adequate service. This may be particularly important given the widening of eligibility to homelessness and housing assistance for EU8 nationals.
The City of Edinburgh Council could also consider making ITS more accessible to voluntary sector agencies:
- Access to multilingual information regarding rape, domestic abuse and related issues should be made available to EU8 women
- Interpreters should be fully trained in dealing with highly sensitive issues, such as rape and domestic abuse
Services across the City should consider reviewing their recruitment policies to reflect the need for multilingual/bilingual staff to communicate effectively with EU8 nationals and help them navigate through the complex systems of support.
8.9 Services for vulnerable women
Information pertaining to support services for vulnerable women should be made available in EU8 languages and distributed appropriately, with awareness of where women can access the information in private.
Further consultation should take place to resolve the issues surrounding access to refuges and places of safety when a woman has no recourse to public funds.
8.10 Strategic planning
The City of Edinburgh Council's Local Housing Strategy and associated strategies, particularly the Homelessness Strategy, should incorporate demographic information on this new migrant population in the city into calculation of future housing need.
8.11 Subsequent research
The findings of this study should be incorporated into further phases of research that are planned, in relation to community planning, social integration and economic development.
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