Article
A warm welcome versus hostility
By Gabriela Neves de Lima
Since the emergence of what is commonly referred to as the "migrant crisis" in the 2010s, the local authorities in Europe have been at the forefront of ensuring the integration of migrants and refugees into their communities. Some act within the framework of political agendas defined by governments, others are more proactive. The Haringey Welcome campaign in north London has chosen to adopt a collaborative approach, while remaining an activist and independent organization that takes a more antagonistic stance when necessary.
Joining forces
In this context, Haringey Welcome contributes to improving social relations on the ground, by building solidarity networks within the borough. The group has been working with schools, for example, to raise awareness of the implications of the hostile environment. It has also garnered support from other local community groups and migrant support organizations – all of whom work together to create a more welcoming borough.
By forging these links and working directly with elected and government officials, Haringey Welcome promotes a form of multi-stakeholder collaboration involving all interested parties. Some of the ways in which this can be done includes bidding for funding for integration initiatives from the Controlling Migration Fund of the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. Establishing a working group of local advisors, migrant organizations and legal experts to develop a strategy for migrants, especially more vulnerable groups, would also be beneficial.
Beyond the political aspect, Nabijou observes that the Haringey Welcome campaign has another side-effect, that is equally central to the initiative. "Through mobilization, you get to know your neighbours, you meet new people, you are better informed about what is happening, and all this blends together to produce an extremely strong sense of community that transforms the place where you live,” she enthuses.
Gabriela Neves de Lima
A political scientist, Gabriela Neves de Lima (Brazil) is a research assistant at the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom. She is a co-author of Cities Welcoming Refugees and Migrants: Enhancing Effective Urban Governance in an Age of Migration, published by UNESCO in 2016.