The Norwich Integration Partnership: New Routes, English+ and The Bridge Plus+ are three organisations in Norwich that work at grassroots level with recently resettled ethnic minority individuals, families, young people and communities in Norwich.
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Through experience and consultation with participants and service providers, the three have identified the need to work in partnership to improve integration support to individuals and families navigating the problematic divide between arrival and living a full functioning life in the Norwich community.
NIP offers pathways of support to address the multiple disadvantages and challenges faced by recently settled migrants with complex needs.
The support and services include: information, advice, advocacy and race equality work (The Bridge Plus+), integrative language development education (English+), and one to one and group activities with skills development opportunities and personalised one-to-one support (New Routes International Friendship Groups, Mentoring & Befriending Programmes).
Key barriers to successful integration include lack of English language skills, cultural awareness and understanding, self-confidence and familiarity with how services operate in the UK, in addition to social isolation, closely linked to a lack of opportunity to interact with the host community; as well as experiences of racism.
Many members of recently resettled ethnic minority communities have experienced trauma and family separation, disrupted education and employment, and health issues, with uncertainty surrounding immigration status and finances.
The formal working partnership strengthens NIP’s ability to improve working practices through sharing information, resources, time and expertise and to influence other mainstream providers in the field, with the aim of improving service provision and delivery to new communities in Norwich.
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