An Investigation into the Barriers to Education and Employment for Forced Migrants in the Convergence Area of Wales

The authors of this precis welcome recent policy interventions from the Welsh Government which have sought to improve the lives and promote the harmonious co-existence of Wales’diverse communities, both migrant and native. These include the aspirations in the Wellbeing of Future Generations under the 2015 Act; the introduction of an ESOL Policy for Wales (2014) and its subsequent revision (forthcoming); the prioritisation of skills, learning and employability under the Welsh Government’s national strategy for Prosperity for All (2017); and the Welsh
Government’s Nation of Sanctuary Delivery Plan (forthcoming), co-produced with the Welsh Refugee Coalition. These policies set a strong context for improving integration outcomes in Wales. Nevertheless, there is little research evidence detailing the challenges and obstacles faced by migrants resettled in areas of Wales with relatively new migrant populations.

It is this gap in literature which our research seeks to address, as we investigate three key questions:
- Are there barriers for refugees in accessing education and employment in these regions? If so, what are they?
- What work is being done, at grassroots, regional and national levels, to overcome these barriers?
- How do forced migrants themselves feel about their education and employment (past, present and future), and their access to existing resources?