Community cohesion ‘set back by the pandemic’ finds IPPR report on migrant integration
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Call for government to ‘jump start’ integration with investment in
social infrastructure that brings communities together
post-pandemic Despite some people coming together, stories of
isolation and rising tensions raise concerns about division and
discrimination An IPPR report reviewing how the pandemic has
affected people’s experiences of migration and integration in their
local areas warns that the last two years have set back community
cohesion. Despite...Request free trial
An IPPR report reviewing how the pandemic has affected people’s experiences of migration and integration in their local areas warns that the last two years have set back community cohesion. Despite positive stories of new connections and neighbourliness in some areas, researchers caution that social distancing measures and the fear caused by the pandemic also reduced social connections and trust between communities. To prevent community cohesion being permanently set back by the pandemic, the government must ‘jump start’ efforts to boost integration, argues the report. The think tank calls for the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda to put a focus on revitalising civil society and creating the physical spaces for communities to come back together. The study, which involved in-depth listening exercises in Cardiff, Oldham and Sandwell, found that the pandemic had ‘pressed pause’ on the opportunities and occasions for social contact between migrant and receiving communities. The interviews revealed that the lockdowns often saw people relying more on established family and friend networks, reducing a sense of broader community. This problem was most acutely felt by new arrivals to the UK and particularly asylum seekers and refugees who did not have an opportunity to build connections before the pandemic struck. One young man who recently migrated from Central America to Cardiff told researchers: “I arrived, two months later started the pandemic… I have over two years here [now] and normally, you hope to learn English in two years, but when that happened, all your plans stopped…” IPPR warns that in some cases the pandemic meant mistrust and tensions between people rose, with some people from an ethnic minority background describing incidents of racism and discrimination related to the pandemic and the circulation of conspiracy theories. The belief that some groups were breaching lockdown rules also reduced trust, with some reporting experiencing prejudice due to accusations that they were more likely to be spreading the virus. An Oldham community worker told the IPPR researchers: “I’ve faced… a lot of racism during the pandemic, but that’s because we were accused of spreading the virus… my sister-in-law, we were out walking in a park, she wears the scarf and the jubbah… and a white couple, with a dog, a young couple, came up to her and said, ‘what are you doing here? Because of you, because of you the virus is spreading in the UK – go back to where you came from.’ She’s half-British!” One woman originally from Iraq and now living in Cardiff said: “People start to be afraid of others… People used to smile in the street to each other, but at the pandemic, they want to run from each other, because they don’t want to catch the virus.” An older man from Oldham reflected on some of the reasons for increased tensions and his perception that some people were not following the Covid-19 guidance, explaining: “I think certain communities, they’re not sticking to the guidelines and that's what annoys me. We’re all sticking by the guidelines and isolating, but you see them still in groups, not wearing masks. They seem to be flaunting the laws.” There were also concerns about the impact of the pandemic on the integration of children. One mother who was originally from Nigeria and now living in Sandwell said: “My son, it has affected him a little, as he didn’t mingle with other children. He found it a bit difficult to mix with other children at school because he had only been with his family.” Many of the concerns raised by people who had migrated were also directly related to their immigration status and inequalities they face, including the impact of No Recourse to Public Funds legislation barring some of them from welfare and other vital support services. Researchers also heard an abundant amount of hopefulness, as the pandemic gave many people the opportunity to evaluate their lives and reimagine their communities. Some saw that there was an increased sense of togetherness as a result of the pandemic and that newly established support networks should be continued and deepened. Many expressed deep compassion for those in less fortunate positions and most agreed that the pandemic had made them more aware of inequalities facing different people in their local area. A man in his 50s from Oldham told researchers: “I think the general consensus is that everyone feels a bit abandoned by the government, and I would suggest a little bit of inward investment would be nice.” The IPPR report urges the government to use this moment and people’s hopefulness for the future to invest in strengthening community cohesion. Proposals include:
Lucy Mort, IPPR Senior Research Fellow, said: “We all want to live in places with strong communities, where all people can thrive, no matter their background. However, social cohesion has been set back by the pandemic, with reduced opportunities for migrant and receiving communities to meet, socialise and reduce any tensions that exist. While we’ve all heard inspiring stories of people coming together during the lockdowns, the reality for many is that this period has led to increased social detachment, isolation and even heightened suspicion. We can’t allow this disruption to lead to increased division and discrimination in society. Instead, the government must use this moment to jump start social cohesion across the country. “Investing in our communities, and in integration specifically, can boost social cohesion and help address the inequalities faced by so many, regardless of immigration status, so that we can build stronger and more resilient places as we recover from the pandemic.” Dave Newall, manger of Brushstrokes Community Project, a charity focused on supporting refugees and migrants across Sandwell, said: “Covid-19’s impact on the communities we work with was sudden and severe. Unemployment, poverty, lack of food and the disruption of ESOL provision left many in despair. Whilst the move to remote working, telephone and online services was fine for organisations and the wider population, it singularly failed the most vulnerable who were left with no means to get the help they needed. “Throughout this time Brushstrokes stayed open, providing food and urgent advice to prevent homelessness, destitution and deal with immigration cases. We therefore welcome IPPR’s call for investment in local and regional integration strategies which include the voice of migrants. Sandwell has shown how strong local leadership that involves the voluntary sector can help to foster inclusion and integration.” ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS
We visited three places to conduct the research: Cardiff, Oldham and Sandwell. There are a number of similarities across our research sites, but also some notable differences. On similarities, each of these areas has seen a growth in ethnic diversity and migration in recent years, and due to their socioeconomic standing, have faced additional challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In terms of differences, we visited neighbourhoods in towns and cities, which meant we were also able to look at experiences in varying geographical contexts. |