On Wednesday 18th June, the Thames Valley Immigration Alliance (TVIA) launched a powerful new report highlighting the experiences of migrant survivors of domestic abuse.
Developed by the four organisations that make up TVIA – Asylum Welcome, Settled, Refugee Support Group Berkshire, and Slough Refugee Support – the report aims to strengthen support for migrant communities across the region.
It maps out the services currently available, identifies the systemic barriers that prevent access to safety and support, and offers practical recommendations for overcoming them.
One area that the report focuses on is supporting those who have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). Those with NRPF have no access to local authority assistance or local services. It is estimated that over 50% of migrants with NRPF are women and people of colour. Sadly, many experience domestic abuse. With cuts to legal aid, language barriers, and fears over data sharing and immigration status, they often have nowhere to turn and feel trapped.
The report recommends several ways local organisations can help overcome these barriers and provide better support and advice. These include promoting coordinated, safer service delivery across the Thames Valley, increasing access to legal advice for migrant survivors, and providing targeted training to local organisations.
The event was hosted by Oxford Brookes University, a University of Sanctuary, and attended by local organisations, many of whom had made valuable contributions to the research.
During the afternoon, Sundial, a rights-based charity dedicated to ending harmful practices and abuse suffered by girls and women, delivered training sessions on how to provide support to those with NRPF, what legal recourse might be available to survivors, and what responsibilities statutory bodies have for this cohort. The training also covered the lesser-known topic of Transnational Marriage Abandonment.
A highlight of the day was the speech made by Adelaide Fahic, an East Timorese and Citizens UK Community Leader. Adelaide spoke passionately about the challenges faced by many migrant women who have little, if any, protection or support.
“There is a hidden reality that many women face here in the UK. They suffer behind closed doors, inside their house. They rely on their husband for the right to live here and are scared. My goal is to work together to look after those women, to protect them and their family.”
– Adelaide Fahic
We hope this report will enable us all to work together to improve our services and better protect these women and their families.
