Arrival infrastructures and migrant newcomers in European cities

Lead Research Organisation: Coventry University
Department Name: Ctr for Trust Peace & Social Relation

Abstract

One of the big issues European societies face is the immigration of an increasing number of migrants from various parts of the world. While European states grapple with the management of immigration flows, the challenge faced on the ground is, in fact, the challenge of migrant inclusion and exclusion. Our established paradigms for examining immigration assume that migrants settle in areas populated by white national majorities, or that they join their co-ethnics in so called 'ethnic neighbourhoods'. However, today, new migrants often move into super-diverse places which are settled by previous migrants of various backgrounds. Such areas have also been described as 'arrival neighbourhoods' which have seen long histories of immigration. Although there is a wide-reaching policy and research agenda concerning migrant integration, little is known about the role of long-established migrants regarding newcomers' settlement. They have received scant policy attention and there is minimal empirical evidence on what incoming migrants do when they first arrive and how they find support. The project asks what factors facilitate the settlement and social mobility of newcomers in such arrival areas. It draws on the notion of arrival infrastructures, constituting a concentration of actors, institutions, and organisations which facilitate arrival, and putting the spotlight on the special role played by long-established migrants. What kind of support do long established migrants provide to newcomers? To what extent are particular constellations of AIs crucial for newcomers? Or are there forms of exploitation, for example by providing substandard housing or lowly paid jobs?
The project will break new ground in integration theory by moving beyond ideas of 'mainstream society' to which newcomers should adapt, and by putting the spotlight on a wide range of actors in the receiving society, rather than just on migrants. Through a comparison of arrival areas in Dortmund, Brussels, and London, the project will contribute crucial new knowledge about current processes of migrant settlement. It will:

- Map formal and informal infrastructural sites in each neighbourhood, ranging from ethnic businesses, to civil society organisations and religious sites. Face-to face surveys, questionnaires and interviews with individuals working in these sites will assess their role in supporting newcomers.
- Assess the role of these sites from the point of view of newcomers by undertaking in-depth interviews and walk-along participant observation with migrants.
- Assess the role of differing immigration, integration and welfare regimes in each site, including existing forms of inequality in shaping AIs and the ability of long-established migrants to support newcomers.

The project will examine a range of AIs indifferent realms:
- Public spaces: Squares, transport hubs, markets, parks, playgrounds, etc.
- Businesses: Small enterprises, launderettes, Internet cafés, hairdressers, nail salons, newsagents, mobile phone shops, money transfer agencies, cafes, restaurants, etc.
- Civil Society: Community organisations, religious sites, NGOs, language classes, food banks, sports clubs, etc.
- State: Libraries, citizen's advice, health services, language classes, etc.

The project will deliver economic and societal impact by providing new knowledge on migrants' settlement strategies and the role of long-established migrants. It is often assumed that assistance for settlement comes through formal channels, agencies and programmes, and councils often lack knowledge on the informal channels through which newcomers find settlement information. By providing in-depth information of settlement processes and the role of AIs, the project will create an authoritative evidence base for joined-up policy formulation with respect to migrant settlement. In doing so, the project will help to increase the effectiveness of public services and enhance the newcomers' quality of life.

Planned Impact

The project will produce societal and economic impact by engaging a wide array of users and beneficiaries. In addition to the academic beneficiaries listed above, it will address three different audiences: National and local governments; local voluntary and community organisations; and public realm service providers who might provide support to newcomers (shop keepers, religious leaders, landlords, etc.). It aims to:

a) Inform national and local governments: Local councils often lack knowledge on the channels through which newcomers find settlement information, and some councils feel overburdened with dealing with high numbers of new arrivals The project will contribute to local councils' development of support provision for new arrivals and inform national and local governments and policy makers about settlement strategies and needs of new arrivals, including the provisions provided to newcomers by long-established migrants.
The project will not only provide empirical evidence of migrant settlement, but also platforms of knowledge exchange between councils, civil society organisations and public realm service providers (such as shopkeepers, landlords, etc.). The team will hold two practitioner workshops in each research area, bringing together and putting into dialogue all three types of stakeholders, i.e. local government, civil society and those working in the public realm. One practitioner will be invited from each city context to provide information about their context and facilitate the international co-production of knowledge. The workshop discussions will inform the research direction and local government and community organisations' strategies to support newcomers. This will enable better cross-fertilisation and knowledge exchange between these groups. Reports from these workshops will be published on the project website and circulated to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Home Office, the London Mayor's office, the local borough councils and their equivalent government departments in Dortmund and Brussels, and relevant voluntary organisations in each city.

b) Inform and engage civil society organisations: The project will contribute to civil society organisations' strategies and activities aimed at supporting newcomers. Throughout the project we will work closely with civil society organisations, including migrant-led and possibly less established organisations. We will achieve impact through 1) two practitioner workshops mentioned above, which will facilitate international knowledge exchange; 2) informal conversations and networking with individuals working in such organisation, and staying in contact with these individuals throughout the research; and 3) Presenting research findings to organisations, for example language providers and advice centres. A range of civil society organisations have offered their support to the project (see letters of support). These networks will ensure the sustainability of the research and the dissemination of its findings, helping ensure that a wide range of beneficiaries will engage with the research.

c) Provide public realm service providers with information about settlement services: Preliminary research in Newham has shown that public realm service providers such as shopkeepers are keen to know more about where they can refer costumers who ask them about, for example, jobs or English classes. In addition to the practitioner workshop which will bring the different interest groups together, we will collaborate with local councils and organisations to compile lists of services for new arrivals, which public realm service providers can draw on when being approached by individuals asking for information. This will give public realm service providers, who are often the 'first call' for newcomers, the tools to refer newcomers to relevant services and organisations.
 
Description In the three cities, we identified different trajectories and tactics on how newcomers navigate, assemble and coproduce arrival infrastructures on multiple political and spatial scales. For example, we identified different local, regional and national policies and formal support structures that impact newcomers' arrival and settlement, as well as structural holes leading to precarious arrival situations and unequal chances. Especially in the context of shortages and gaps, informal commercial and non-commercial intermediaries (brokers) are highly relevant for newcomers and providers alike. These intermediaries may act with different motivations, and these motivations impact on newcomers' arrival trajectories.
The project found that the arrival services in the neighbourhoods are not only relevant for and not only produced by the people housed in the neighbourhood, but that arrival neighbourhoods contain important infrastructures which function as supra-local social and economic centres. Some of these infrastructures are also shaped by people who live outside the neighbourhood, many of whom with a recent history of international mobility. At the same time, the municipal services provided specifically by local authorities are often limited to those who reside within the local authority, and collaboration across municipal borders varies between the sites.
The project also found that the degree to which local authorities are networked with civil society organisations is crucial regarding the provision of support for newcomers. For example, in Dortmund, civil society organisations are very well connected and have strong ties to the local authority. Signposting takes place between these, which leads to better accessibility of resources for newcomers. In Newham, these processes of networking have only started emerging during the course of the research and are not as well established yet.
The research in the three cities found that volunteering can be crucial to build both social and cultural capital especially for those excluded from the labour market due to their immigration status. For people in precarious immigration situations, volunteering facilitates access to statutory institutions and helps to build strong bonds between them and the organisation. Our interlocutors describe a positive impact on their mental wellbeing and that volunteering helps them to structure their days and increases the feeling of being included.
More broadly, we have identified three key themes for our analysis (commodification of advice, neighbourhood scale, volunteering). We are preparing a publication about each of the key themes.
Exploitation Route Our outcomes have been produced in collaboration with practitioners and stakeholders. Outcomes of the project are strengthening networks between arrival infrastructures in arrival neighbourhoods and also across cities. For example, the project has enhanced awareness and knowledge of other support services within neighbourhoods and helped strengthen migrant support networks. By collaborating for example with the Greater London Authority, The London Borough of Newham, the City of Dortmund and the Municipality of Anderlecht, we are also shaping agendas at local authority level and beyond, with arrival neighbourhoods/ infrastructures emerging as policy themes. In Newham it has specifically been the ongoing collaborative relationship with practitioners where a lively exchange took place (and continues to do so), namely with the council's public health team, a local primary school and a community centre.
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy

Education

Healthcare

Government

Democracy and Justice

URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/writing-events/blog/
 
Description Our research is in line with the idea of creating stronger communities. By highlighting the importance of local networks, we are contributing to making a case for increased funding in local areas. Our research shows the economic and social resilience, creativity and potential that arrival areas have. Through the international comparison involving the UK and two countries in mainland Europe (Belgium and Germany) we are also able to enhance our understanding of the role that local authorities play on the neighbourhood level in the process of arrival and beyond. The project has both local impact in each of the research sites, as well as across the sites. In London, we have enhanced networks and knowledge exchange between the local authority and civil society stakeholders, raising awareness of particular issues faced by newcomers (such as lack of information about language classes, accessing schools etc.), and how newcomers navigate these information gaps when first arriving. We have highlighted the importance of public-facing support structures that are clearly visible in public spaces, building on the Greater London Authority's concept of the 'social front door'. In Dortmund, three workshops with stakeholders, including representatives of municipal and regional councils lead to higher visibility of the neighbourhood as an arrival neighbourhood. Potentials and threats were identified. The role of formal and informal support structures was discussed. Participants learnt more about their target groups and best practices in other contexts (Brussels, London). Through collaboration with Civil Society Organisations in initiating participatory multi-level governance impact, arrival neighbourhoods and their specific needs were put on the political agenda. Service providers found study results useful for reflecting and improving their services and internal structure. In Brussels, key findings were intensively discussed with a range of stakeholders during workshops and recurring informal events. With two key stakeholders ? the association Cultureghem and the Anderlecht municipal prevention service - a more intensive trajectory was developed to reflect on the implications of the research - and particularly our findings related to scalar issues and polycentricity ? on the informal and municipal services that are currently offered. Furthermore, stakeholders from the migrant support sector from each city were brought together for knowledge exchange. They reported that it was highly enlightening for them to hear about good practice in dealing with high numbers of new arrivals in other European arrival areas.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Societal

Policy & public services

 
Description Guest lecture and seminar on 'Migration and Inequality' for the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity Programme at LSE.
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://afsee.atlanticfellows.lse.ac.uk/
 
Description Input to the Housing and Living Expert Committee of the Association of the Housing Industry in Baden-Württemberg
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact The input led to an exchange with real estate actors on these burning current questions. They reported a change in their perception of current existing (excluding) paradigms. Other approaches towards a fair housing allocation were discussed. This may hopefully lead to a better and more just accessibility of housing.
 
Description Key note at municipal conference on integration (City of Giessen)
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact The key note lecture highlighted the role of stakeholders, such as municipal services, civil society organisations and real estate actors, in co-producing just urban areas. Participants reported changing paradigms towards more inclusive housing and integration policies.
 
Description Lecture (state-level representatives): Social cohesion in the context of diversity and fluctuation
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://jrf.nrw/veranstaltung/zusammenhalt/
 
Description Lecture and panel discussion at symposium on resilience and the future of (large) housing estates
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact The event was attended by a wider public, including professionals. Guest are actively shaping urban conditions for migrant newcomers in (large) housing estates. Lively and controversial discussions showed how HH introduced new approaches and paradigms, e.g. on social mixing. Guests reported that her voice was very important, especially among more profit-oriented and conservative speakers.
 
Description Lecture at UCL 'Infrastructures and Mobility'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Practitioners' workshop on newcomers' societal and political participation
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact Participants learnt more and exchanged about their audiences as well as strategies on how to better engage with them. This led to an increasing awareness of newcomers' demands, challenges and assets. It contributed to a better adjustment of services and a better understanding of structural factors impacting newcomers' participation. Positive effects were reported during break-out groups, in individual feedback, as well as during follow-up events.
URL https://www.kefb.de/kurssuche/kurs/Fachkraefte-Workshop-Labor-Ankommen/N30RVBA019
 
Description Support in foundation of discussion group for Palestian asylum seekers
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
Impact The group consists of Palestinian men who have arrived before or during the bombing of Gaza since October 2023, who were denied access to the official reception infrastructure because of their gender and who need a safe space to talk about the trauma of the ongoing war
 
Description Support in foundation of social clinic in Cureghem
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
Impact 35% of the patients of the dispensaire sociale have precarious status and have difficulties in finding access to regular medical services in Brussels
 
Description Undergraduate course for urban planning students on arrival areas and infrastructures
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact The students acquire knowledge on the migration - city nexus and their role as future urban planners to improve newcomers' arrival. they learn theoretical, methodological and practical knowledge to reflect on and work towards equality and equity in cities. The students stated that this course is a valued contribution to their curriculum that often ignores social aspects in planning. The students also reported how their perspectives changed and how they gained practical knowledge for their future careers.
 
Description ATLAS: Access to housing and social infrastructure for people with precarious residence status in Brussels
Amount € 768,720 (EUR)
Funding ID 2023-PRB-18a 
Organisation Innoviris 
Sector Public
Country Belgium
Start 11/2023 
End 09/2026
 
Description Mercator Foundation (no specific scheme)
Amount € 2,293,500 (EUR)
Organisation Mercator Foundation 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country Germany
Start 04/2023 
End 04/2026
 
Title Mapping tool 
Description - Research infrastructure for multi-layered and comparative mapping via CollectorApp 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact - facilitating data collection - facilitating data proceeding, analysis and visualisation - comparative caracter 
 
Description Greater London Authority (GLA) 
Organisation Greater London Authority (GLA)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Exploring the early stages of a collaboration on a GLA commissioned piece of research on asylum-seekers.
Collaborator Contribution -
Impact -
Start Year 2022
 
Description Newham Council / Public Health England 
Organisation Newham Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Attended mapping workshop with public health workers exploring the specific challenges of access for people with precarious migration status, exploring options of linking up different mapping efforts.
Collaborator Contribution Provided mapping workshop
Impact Linking up different ways of doing systems mapping of services for newly arrived migrants / those with precarious migration status.
Start Year 2022
 
Description AIMEC Final Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Our final project event took place in the three research sites (London, Brussels and Dortmund). The three venue were connected via zoom. In the morning, research findings were presented from each site, and overall implications that were relevant for all sites. This was followed by face-to-face break out groups in each site, where findings were discussed with practitioners from each site. These included individuals from the civil society sector, local authorities and schools. Lively discussions between these practitioners and academics, including postgraduate students, took place.
After the break-out-groups, the three sites came back together online and reported back on their discussion. The day ended with a keynote talk by Jenny Phillimore, who presented findings from a comparative project looking at civil society support for migrants in Sweden and the UK, entitled 'Breaking down barriers to inequalities in superdiverse areas: civil society, two-way thinking, and opportunity structures'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Arrival Stories - A participatory photography exhibition 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact During 4 weeks in May we carried out photography workshops at the Renewal Programme (Newham-based charity) together with a facilitator from Fotosynthesis (https://www.fotosynthesiscommunity.org/). The participants were recruited from the Renewal Programme's ESOL programme and 6 sessions took place in total during which the 12 participants learned about different photography techniques and where we discussed different ways of telling stories through photos. The participants then engaged in exercises that would tell their own arrival trajectory and reflect on places and people that were important when they first arrived in Newham. Each photo was accompanied by writing that reflected on the photo. These workshops culminated in an exhibition that was inaugurated on 26/06/2023 in the downstairs hall at the Renewal Programme. The exhibition opening was attended by Renewal Programme staff and students as well as representatives from other local organisations. Through the exhibition we found a novel of disseminating our research findings and engage with non-academic audiences and research participants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.renewalprogramme.org.uk/arrival-stories-photo-exhibition/
 
Description Arriving in Brussels - workshop for practitioners and researchers 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 57 Brussels-based practitioners and researchers attended the presentation of research results from AIMEC and related research projects. The short presentations were followed by discussion and alignment on future collaboration between practitioners and researchers
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxWif9bW9YawDE0k1cGKJ7PyKlG6ggY2kMZ3jIyN8YQwFjnQ/viewform
 
Description Blog: AIMEC Kick-Off-Treffen 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact German language blog to publicise AIMEC Kick-Off event
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2021/09/03/aimec-kick-off-treffen/?lang=de
 
Description Blog: AIMEC Kickoff Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A blog was written covering the Kick-Off Event for the AIMEC project, which introduced the three research sites and reflects on a discussion involving 30 attending researchers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2021/07/01/aimec-kick-off-event/
 
Description Blog: Aankomstinfrastructuren 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dutch language blog on arrival infrastructure as a lens on migrant incorporation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2022/03/07/elementor-9313/?lang=nl
 
Description Blog: Ankommen in der Dortmunder Nordstadt und Darüber Hinaus 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Blog publicising Dortmund transfer workshop
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2022/06/28/ankommen-in-der-dortmunder-nordstadt-und-darueber-h...
 
Description Blog: Ankunftsinfrastrukturen 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact German language blog on arrival infrastructure as a lens on migrant incorporation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2021/09/03/ankunftsinfrastruktur/?lang=de
 
Description Blog: Arrival Infrastructures 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Blog outlining the reasons for using 'arrival infrastructure' as a lens on migrant incorporation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2021/05/03/arrival-infrastructures/
 
Description Blog: Arriving in Dortmund Nordstadt and Beyond 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Blog describing the participants and issues discussed by local and regional stakeholders during a workshop in Dortmund on 20 May 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2022/06/28/arriving-in-dortmund-nordstadt-and-beyond/
 
Description Blog: Infrastructures d'Arrivée 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact French language blog on arrival infrastructure as a lens on migrant incorporation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2022/03/06/infrastructures-darrivee/?lang=fr
 
Description Blog: International Stakeholders Connect in Nordstadt 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Blog describing the AIMEC team's visit to Dortmund; the interaction of attending practitioners who support migrants in London, Brussels and Dortmund; and key points raised.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2022/11/29/international-stakeholders-connect-in-nordstadt/
 
Description Blog: Stakeholders Meeting Newham 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Blog describing the participants and issues discussed in a meeting with our stakeholders in the Borough of Newham (London).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2022/03/07/stakeholders-meeting-newham/
 
Description Blog: Workshop on mediators' role in arrival processes 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Blog about a two-hour workshop that the Dortmund team organised together with a colleague from the NGO Planerladen, to discuss mediators' role in arrival processes on invitation of the Norstadt-based socio-educational centre Raum vor Ort.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2023/01/30/workshop-on-mediators-role/
 
Description Community-led Research Workshop Presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact I gave a presentation at a workshop about community-led research organised by Newham Council and Compost London. The workshop was part of their ongoing effort to establish a community research network in Newham, and my contribution was based on our project's experiences and findings, especially in regard to collaboration and co-production of knowledge. The online meeting was attended by 80+ people from Civil Society Organisations, local authorities and academics. The talk was well-received and contributed to our effort to disseminate our research findings to a larger audience, and participate in these ongoing discussions of community research in Newham.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://lgiu.org/blog-article/championing-community-led-research-with-marginalised-groups-in-newham/
 
Description Contribution to conference Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The conference "how to escape from the reception crisis" was organized by the NGO Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen. Bruno Meeus and Elisabeth Mareels actively contributed to two parallel workshops organized in the afternoon. Bruno actively participated in the workshop "how to encourage the active collaboration of municipalities in constructing a durable reception network in Belgium" which as attended by 20 participants. Elisabeth Mareels actively participated in the workshop: "how to implement an alternative reception model?" which was attended by 25 participants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://vluchtelingenwerk.be/evenement/conferentie-hoe-halen-we-de-opvang-uit-de-crisis
 
Description Debate following the lectures as part of "THE INFORMAL CITY: A PERSPECTIVE FROM KINSHASA AND BRUSSELS" conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Debate around the tensions between formal and informal processes that contribute to the making of Brussels. The panel was composed by the presenters of a series of four lectures, in the wake of the contemporary art exhibition 'Kinshasa (N)Tóngá' at Kanal/Centre Pompidou - Brussels. The debate aimed at discussing the right to the city and deconstructing the idea that informal dynamics are peculiar to cities of the South. They also unfold in European capitals, such as Brussels.
Around thirty persons, civilians as well as researchers interested in the city of Brussels, assisted to the debate, which sparked questions and a discussion about a failing social system in Belgium when it comes to support (undocumented) migrants, and the ways in which these persons 'use' the city to make their living and sense in a (purposely) senseless context.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://kanal.brussels/en/events/talk/informal-city-a-perspective-kinshasa-and-brussels
 
Description GLA Asylum Welcome Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Participated in a knowledge-exchange meeting with the organisers of the Asylum Welcome Design Labs, a process organised by the Greater London Authority bringing together representatives from 11 different London borough-councils to talk about best practice with newly arrived asylum seekers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Interim event, presenting AIMEC's preliminary findings 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The interim event presented preliminary findings from the AIMEC project. While a range of academics working in this field was invited, we also included stakeholders from each research site, for example individuals working in civil society organisations and local governments. The event led to interesting discussions between researchers and practitioners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/writing-events/blog/
 
Description International Stakeholder Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact At the beginning of November 2022, the AIMEC team met in Dortmund to connect practitioners who support migrants in London, Brussels and Dortmund. Over two days, the participants exchanged experiences, shared practices of supporting newcomers and identified differences between the three sites.
The project team was accompanied by experienced practitioners from Newham (London) and Cureghem (Brussels). The group went on a tour through Dortmund Nordstadt to get to know and connect with different arrival spaces. These included organisations that support migrants, a school where most pupils do not have German as their first language, and a migrant-run shop supporting newcomers. We were welcomed by a variety of organisations on their premises. Visiting these organisations and talking to practitioners working in them led to many interesting conversations about the similarities and differences between migrant support initiatives across the sites. We continued these conversations on the second day during a workshop with stakeholders from other organisations and institutions, such as the employment agency, the social department of the city council and other actors that have also participated in a first AIMEC workshop.
The international stakeholder meeting helped the participants to reflect on their practices, revealed best practices and fostered cross-site exchange.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2022/11/29/international-stakeholders-connect-in-nordstadt/
 
Description Local exchange group Nordstadt 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Participation in a local exchange group on current challenges and new developments in the field site. Researcher reported from ongoing research and had discussions with practitioners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description Local stakeholder meeting "Cureghem crossroads" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The local stakeholder workshop was organized at Cultureghem and co-organized with volunteer-newcomers who work at Cultureghem. The workshop assembled local professional practitioners, students in architecture and people with precarious citizenship and explored the potential of a mapping approach for collectively discussing the role and significance of Cureghem's arrival infrastructure for people with precarious citizenship status.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description London Catalyst AGM 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact Presented the project and some preliminary findings at the AGM of London Catalyst which is a charitable trust supporting a number of organisations throughout London.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Newham NRPF (No Recourse to Public Funds) Network 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Presented the project and preliminary findings to the Newham No Recourse to Public Funds Network a group of third sector organisations and some council workers engaged with tackling poverty.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Participation in Systems Mapping Workshop to map issues faced by migrants with an insecure legal status in Newham 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact The activity was organised by Newham Council and The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The aim was to map issues faced by migrants with an insecure legal status, for example in the realms of housing, legal advice, access to schools, mental health, access to language classes, etc. My postdoc Malte Gembus and I were able to participate in these discussions with local stakeholders from the civil society sector, making new connections with these stakeholders. We also met representatives of the Greater London Authority, who are currently undertaking a project entitled 'Asylum Welcome', with Newham as one of the case studies. The event led to further meetings with the GLA and the plan to collaborate with them on their project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Practitioners' workshop on newcomers' societal and political participation 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The workshop aimed to look at arrival practices and infrstructures from an angle focused on political and societal participation. A research team member co-organised the workshop together with local stakeholders. She gave an input informed by the funded research. Practitioners in CSOs and public authorities from accross the region attended the online workshop. It sparked interesting discussions and lead to further engagement of some attendees in our activities (output, collaborations).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.kefb.de/kurssuche/kurs/Fachkraefte-Workshop-Labor-Ankommen/N30RVBA019
 
Description Preparatory workshops for a local knowledge transfer activity (Science Slam) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Preparatory meetings for an activity taking place in September, facilitated by one of our partners
Exchanging with researchers from other disciplines who are active in the area
Connectiong with local stakeholders and community organizers to develop further collaboration and suitable methods for local knowledge transfer
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presentation to Newham Community Neighbourhood Link Workers 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented our project at the staff meeting of Newham Council's Community Neighbourhood Link Workers. These are detached community workers that carry out work primarily with vulnerable adults in the neighbourhood.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Project group AQ-Werkstatt 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Co-initiation and participation in an ongoing working group on arrival neighbourhoods' challenges and potentials. So far, 4 working group meetings took place. There was one hearing with representatives of the local social department. The working group plans to submit a project proposal and develops an own methodology for political impact and community participation.
The process is accompanied by the research team. This includes reporting on research findings, theoretical grounding and networking.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description Public intervention: 400 chairs for educational justice 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The aim was to put a spotlight on lacking educational justice in the study site (e.g. missing school places leading to hundreds of children who are not attending school). The event took place as a cooperation between research partner ILS, civil societies and schools and other educational institutions. Team member HH co-organised the event. Team member MN facilitated two workshops engaging with parents in the area and their struggles. The event was attended by the general public, by schools and practitioners . It was also attended by local politicians (such as the city mayor, district's representative). The event was covered in local and regional media.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.nordstadtblogger.de/die-lage-in-der-nordstadt-spitzt-sich-zu-keine-kinderaerzte-fehlende...
 
Description RAI Public Anthropology Video 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Collaborated with two RAI Public Anthropology Fellows on the production of a YouTube video which consisted of a walk through East Ham and a conversation about migration and the neighbourhood.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDUCOaQWtm4&t=3s
 
Description Science Walk 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The activity's aim was to make research and science accessible to a broader public. The event took place in a courtyard within the scope of field site. The event specifically targeted a non-academic audience. The research project, principles and results were presented in an artistic, playful and low-threshold way. The event fostered an exchange with residents and practitioners. It helped to establish new contacts to future partners and new study participants. The research team exchanged with other researchers studying in the same field site and/or on related topics (from disciplines such as human-computer-interaction, ageing studies, architecture, communication sciences).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2023/05/22/science-walks/
 
Description Science Walk 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The activity's aim was to make research and science accessible to a broader public. The event took place in a courtyard within the scope of field site. The event specifically targeted a non-academic audience. The research project, principles and results were presented in an artistic, playful and low-threshold way.
The event fostered an exchange with residents and practitioners. It helped to establish new contacts to future partners and new study participants. The research team exchanged with other researchers studying in the same field site and/or on related topics (from disciplines such as human-computer-interaction, ageing studies, architecture, communication sciences).
The event will be repeated in summer 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Stakeholder meeting, London Borough of Newham 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact This was our first stakeholder event, as outlined in the impact section of our proposal. The event was held at the Newham Renewal Programme. It's aim was to communicate the project's aim to a range of stakeholders working with migrants. The project was presented to this audience, and feedback was thought as to the directions the project should take, and what kind of information would be useful for local stakeholder to gain from the project. Stakeholder mainly came from local civil society organisations, Newham council as well as an individual from the neighbouring council, Tower Hamlets.
The event was extremely successful as it facilitated networking amongst civil society organisations engaged with migrants, as well as lining up potential for future collaborations. We made contact with someone from Public Health Newham, who then got us connected with the Greater London Authority, with whom we are now setting up a meeting to potentially collaborate on their Asylum Welcome Programme, for which they have chosen Newham as one of the case studies.
The event was also successful because it revealed the great need amongst stakeholders and the council to connect further and work on future collaboration in order to improve support provision for migrants in the area. The event was thus impactful directly for stakeholders, but also indirectly in terms of their longer term work with migrants and regarding their ability to signpost service users to the right organisations.
A Blog with further details about the event has been published on our project website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Stakeholder workshop, Dortmund 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The goal of the event was to provide initial insights into the research and to exchange ideas on key topics. Around 20 local and regional stakeholders from civil society, local administration and local politics took part in the workshop. Due to long-established and strong network structures in Dortmund, many of the participants already knew each other, but haven't seen eachother in person due to the pandemic. There were also new connections to be made. Guests from Duisburg, the state's ministry as well as from an EU-Horizon2020 funded project (ReROOT) offered the opportunity for (supra)regional exchange. An AIMEC colleague from London also contributed to the success of the event with a translocal comparative perspective.
The event focussed on three topics that we had identified as important in the research process to date: The role of arrival neighbourhoods in the overall urban context; arrival infrastructures and access points; diversity-oriented institutional change. We witnessed lively and also controversial discussions and new impulses for the ongoing research process. The format reveiled the relevance of the chosen themes for local and regional stakeholders. We received a lot of positive feedback. In a brief survey of their ideas for future exchange formats, participants expressed their desire for a future engagement. They would like to attend events with an involvement of newcomers in the area. They were also very much interested in jointly planned interventions, as well as inter-community and international exchange.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2022/06/28/arriving-in-dortmund-nordstadt-and-beyond/
 
Description The Conversation Article 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Published an article in 'The Conversation' an academic news outlet, our article responded directly to the news that a number of Afghan families in Home Office accommodation are going to be moved away from London where they are currently housed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://theconversation.com/refugee-families-being-moved-from-london-to-leeds-our-research-shows-wha...
 
Description Vodcast "400 chairs" for educational justice 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The video podcast regularly provides insights into research topics and projects from the ILS. Scientists present the results of their research, web-based applications and scientific publications and comment on current topics from politics and science. It aims to present research activities and findings to a broader audience and is advertised through many different social media channels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://vimeo.com/838235191
 
Description Workshop during meeting-day voluntary return and re-integration 24/11/22 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 31 professional practitioners working in the fields of asylum policy, voluntary return and psychosocial support attended an interactive workshop about "arrival infrastructures", chaired by Bruno Meeus and Elisabeth Mareels and organized as part of a full day networking and learning event organized by Anderlecht municipality, CAW Brussel, IOM, Caritas en Fedasil
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Workshop on 'Welcoming Schools' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact On 01/11 I co-facilitated a workshop at Kensington Primary School (East Ham) together with Assistant Head Teacher Soofia Amin. The topic was Multilingual Education and Welcoming Schools and the workshop was attended by 10 teachers and school-volunteers from Newham and beyond. The workshop was a great way to disseminate our research findings and its practical implications to an audience of practitioners. We are currently thinking about offering similar workshops regularly through the Newham Welfare Alliance and are in conversations with people at the council about this.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://x.com/soofia_amin/status/1719796053409497135?s=20
 
Description Workshop on and with mediators in arrival processes 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact The aim of the workshop was to create a space for exchange and reflection inspired by observations from the AIMEC research project. The workshop gathered 12 people, who are active as full-time or voluntary mediators in Nordstadt and support newly arrived people in many different ways and in various areas of life. The two-hour workshop was organised in collaboration with the local NGO Planerladen. It took place in the Norstadt-based socio-educational centre Raum vor Ort that invited us to do this workshop.
We received a request to repeat this workshop in another organisational setting.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://migrantarrival.coventry.ac.uk/2023/01/30/workshop-on-mediators-role/
 
Description Workshop series on arrival and (political) participation 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact During five workshops, participants engaged with the topic of political participation and developed an agenda that they presented in front of the district's government. Participants were newcomers' from the study area, partly involved in research activities earlier. The workshops took place as part of the Labor Ankommen (Arrival Lab) - a collaboration of civil society organisations in Dortmund and the research project partner ILS. The workshops were successful and are planned to be continued in 2024 with the aim to involve higher political levels (regional and federal parliament).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.kefb.de/kurssuche/kurs/Labor-Ankommen/N30RVBA016