Mid and East Antrim councillors have agreed to accept a further £15,000 asylum seeker dispersal funding from The Northern Ireland Executive Office (TEO) despite opposition.
A report presented to the borough council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee, at a meeting in The Braid, Ballymena, on Tuesday evening, said:
“TEO and Home Office have been working with 11 local councils to raise awareness of plans in place in relation to the dispersal of asylum seekers and refugees across Northern Ireland.
“TEO has highlighted the need to establish networks for the support and integration of dispersed asylum seekers and refugees into local communities and the need to facilitate the process in an inclusive and safe manner.”
The council says it has “recognised the need to build a shared understanding of the needs, existing resources and gaps in provision at local level”.
Through previous dispersal funding, a number of initiatives have been delivered in Mid and East Antrim such as English classes, mainly through churches in the borough, workshops on cultural awareness and trauma informed practice, English language training for volunteers, a digital welcome pack and Refugee Week events.
It is anticipated this round of funding will be based around “trauma informed practice” with sessions to be run across the borough which will be open to councillors and the community.
Carrick Castle Ulster Unionist Councillor Bethany Ferris commented:
“I am really pleased to see more funding coming through for trauma informed training. More training is imperative for our community. I propose we approve the money.”
In September, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council approved a motion to adopt a “trauma-informed approach which is grounded in the understanding that trauma can have a significant impact on a person’s life and the prevalence of trauma can have an impact on the emotional, physiological, and social well-being of a person”.
Coast Road Alliance Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna said she welcomed an additional £15k funding.
Ballymena TUV Cllr Matthew Armstrong commented he was “not altogether confident or satisfied about the trajectory the TEO or Home Office is on”.
Ballymena Sinn Fein Cllr Breanainn Lyness asked how many asylum seekers and refugees there are in Mid and East Antrim.
An officer indicated it is her understanding there is no dispersal in Mid and East Antrim, adding it is “very difficult to get up to date information from the Home Office”.
She indicated the Loughshore Hotel in Carrickfergus which had been accommodating asylum seekers and refugees has closed and she went on to say she does not have “exact numbers” of those living in the borough.
She noted asylum seekers are held in “initial accommodation” but there is no “initial accommodation” in Mid and East Antrim.
Carrick Castle Alliance Cllr Lauren Gray commented:
“I am so disappointed that we have to have the same discussion every time. We want our borough to be welcoming and inclusive. I want to end this discussion on a positive note.”
The recommendation to accept the funding was agreed following a vote in which eight councillors were in favour with two against and four abstentions.
Last September, the council lost out on £50,000 funding after turning down almost twice the sum, six months previously, which resulted in “complaints made by community partners expressing disappointment and concern” at missing out.
The Executive Office has been the lead department supporting Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Northern Ireland, working in partnership with the UK Government, other Executive departments, councils and the voluntary and community sector to co-ordinate the response at a local level.