£19 million integration investment for local government

Councils across England will receive a share of £19 million to help ease pressures on local services resulting from recent migration.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said that the latest allocation from the Controlling Migration Fund includes more than £16 million for 38 projects to ease pressures on housing, education and health services. This latest allocation brings the total funding to £73.5 million since the launch of the fund.

A further £1.75 million of funding will be spent helping new refugees into work and integrate into their new communities after their asylum decision is made, while £1.1 million will be set aside for six councils to support victims of modern slavery to link up with local services when they leave central government-funded support, thereby reducing their risk of becoming homeless, sleeping rough, or being re-trafficked.

The investment follows the publication of the government’s Integrated Communities Strategy green paper in March, which highlighted how the government is working on local integration plans with five Integration Areas across the country that have already shown leadership in tackling the challenges their areas face. These are: Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford, Peterborough, Walsall and Waltham Forest.

Communities Minister Lord Bourne said: “We’re already seeing how funding from the Controlling Migration Fund can deliver rapid results. These new projects will further support communities in coming together to address local challenges, help recent arrivals settle into their new communities and also provide extra services for the benefit of all.

“We know that refugees face particular challenges in settling into British life, so we are providing additional support to help them find work and improve their English language skills.”