Sales & Marketing Alignment: How to Synergize for Success
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Ethnicity, Social Networks and Poverty
1. Ethnicity, social networks,
poverty and inclusion
TSRC Below the Radar conference
5th July 2013
Jenny Phillimore & Alison Gilchrist
Local-Level.org.uk
2. Overview of presentation
⢠Some working definitions and concepts
⢠Description of two research projects - scope
and methods
â Refugees integration - Jenny
â Social networks, poverty and ethnicity â Alison
⢠Q and As
⢠Key findings and implications
⢠Discussion
3. Definitions
⢠Poverty: when your income doesnât allow you to obtain
the things you need
⢠Ethnicity: broadly defined â
race, culture, faith, origin/nationality, heritage and
homeland
⢠Refugee â the Home Office defined
⢠Integration â Ager & Strangâs integration indicators
⢠Social networks: connections with others, based on
trust and participation/exchanges
⢠Social capital: web of associations comprising interpersonal networks, norms and trust
⢠Networking â establishing, maintaining and using these
links and relationships
4. Research Questions
⢠What are refugeesâ integration priorities?
⢠What types of social network and social
capital do refugees possess?
⢠What is the relationship between different
types of network and capital and other
indicators of integration?
⢠What types of social network and social
capital are most beneficial for refugee
integration?
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5. Methods and profile
⢠Re-analysis of SNR â 5600 refugees 2005-2008
⢠E-survey of integration priorities to support
index development
⢠Refugees from >100 countries
⢠49% Muslim, 40% Christian
⢠The majority of refugees were under the age of
35 (70%).
⢠31% in UK less than 6 months, 22% over 5 years
⢠21% living with spouse
7. Purpose of JRF research project
To investigate the links between social
networks, ethnicity and poverty
⢠How are networks established and maintained?
⢠How do they help people cope with poverty?
⢠How do people use networks to move out of poverty
?
⢠What other factors come into play?
â education, affordable credit, housing, cultures and racial
discrimination?
8. Research methods
⢠Birmingham, Liverpool and Cumbria
⢠Recruitment and training of 8
community researchers
⢠91 interviews with community
members
⢠30 counties of origin: âestablished
communitiesâ
⢠28 agency interviews
⢠4 scoping meetings with communities
⢠3 social media workshops
⢠Observation sessions and visits
⢠3 community feedback workshops
and 1 policy seminar
9. How people benefit from networks
GETTING BY
⢠Emergency help
⢠Finding work
⢠Getting accommodation
⢠Sharing childrenâs clothes,
toys
⢠Access to affordable food
⢠Short-term informal lending
⢠Skills exchange â brokering
and bartering
⢠Emotional support/comfort
⢠Help with interpretation of
official documents
GETTING ON
⢠Recruiting staff
⢠Business promotion
⢠Supply chains and potential
markets
⢠Access to expert advice and
trades people (cheap or free)
⢠Savings and loans systems for
investment
⢠Role models and mentoring
⢠Training and learning
opportunities
10. Barriers and limitations
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Language â vitality of English â and legal status
Racism â prejudices and discrimination
Xenophobia â feeling rebuffed or uncomfortable
Cost of networking (travel, presents, socialising)
Lack of time and energy â shifts, childcare, etc.
Lack of confidence, self esteem
Tendency to stay within own community â> lack of
access to well-paid jobs and good opportunities
⢠Peer and family pressures, duties and businesses
⢠Family ties cost money â dowries, remittances, visits
11. Networking motivation and methods
⢠Strategies for finding the ârightâ (useful)
people
⢠Maintain cultural identity and conventions
⢠Being pro-active in keeping networks open
and growing
⢠Maintaining profile and credibility
⢠Getting and checking reliable information
⢠Providing a comfort zone, a âsafe placeâ
⢠Enjoyment and affection
12. Individual characteristics
⢠Ambition
⢠Hope and positive attitudes
⢠Character/ethos/orientation
â joy of giving and helping others
â Commitment to family/community
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Spirit of independence
Confidence and friendliness
Stepping âoutside immediate comfort zonesâ
Personal resources (time, money, skills)
13. Any questions ?
⢠About what we did rather
than what we found out
⢠Findings and implications
come next
14. Shared Findings 1
⢠Importance of family and friends
⢠Importance of voluntary, community and faith groups
⢠Agencies are not networking as effectively as they could be
to reach/serve minority ethnic communities
⢠The complexity of negotiating systems and the culture of
those systems
⢠Links between networks and informal employment processes
â Equalities issues
⢠Inclusive and exclusive aspects of networks
⢠Levels of trust and reciprocity shape how networks operate
and how accessible they are for different individuals and
communities
15. Shared Findings 2
⢠Importance of ESOL: language and âspace to
networkâ
⢠Lack of social networks associated with poor
health
⢠Bonding capital for emotional support and
survival
⢠Bridging and linking capital/âweak tiesâ for
âgetting aheadâ
⢠Level of education in country of origin: linked to
nature and range of networks
16. Shared Findings 3
⢠Stereotypes of communities were misleading â many
exceptions, but shared values and traditions were
important
⢠Impact of ânetwork disruptionâ: divorce, loss of long term
employment/workplace; moving home
⢠Cultural characteristics of networks: reflect social
identities - ethnic, class or gender differences, personal
interests and family histories
⢠Networks are not the only (or most important?) factor in
moving out of poverty or enabling integration
⢠Other factors â access to funds and assets, education,
language skills, discrimination, fiscal policy, impact of
welfare reform
17. Key Differences 1
⢠Refugees do not prioritise networks although
evidence suggests they are essential
⢠Few gender differences in networks but
differences in outcomes
⢠Safety and security and impact of harassment
ânegative networksâ greatest impact on
integration
⢠Clear negative impact of dispersal on integration
and types of network
⢠Living with children associated with poorer
health
18. Key Differences 2
⢠Social Media Focus: ethnic difference in social media
(QQ/ Nasra Klasa):E-bay and online trading â Made in
Cumbria, R&J store â Filipino goods
⢠Age, class and network awareness
⢠Digital disadvantage (rather than a clear âdigital
divideâ)
⢠Rural focus: Scattered BME populations:
isolation, stress: lack of âcritical massâ for organising
ethnic specific community activities
⢠Agency focus: macro-policy issues more important
than networks in addressing poverty (impact of
cuts, welfare reform etc)
19. Recommendations
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Improve access to quality language training
Encourage development of all kinds of networks
Support NGOs to work with refugees
Protect from anti-integrative attacks
Look at mechanisms to place asylum seekers near
friends and family
⢠Prioritise support for women and Muslims
⢠Support family reunion
20. Recommendations
⢠Access to face to face advice
⢠ESOL: addressing language barriers and ensuring
space for inter-cultural networking
⢠Promote digital fluency and access to internet
⢠Volunteer opportunities as a way into employment
⢠Mentoring and peer support
⢠Role of community based organisations:
commissioning for âsocial valueâ
⢠Access to âverticalâ connections via agenciesâ
networks
21. Discussion
⢠Do these findings and recommendations
seem right?
⢠What are the implications for policy and
practice?
⢠What more do we need to know?
⢠What is happening already to implement
some of these ideas?
⢠How can the issues raised be addressed?
22. Acknowledgement
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Research by: Sin Yi Cheung and Jenny Phillimore
Supported by Nuffield Foundation
Further information: j.a.phillimore@bham.ac.uk
Advisory Group:
â Chris Atwood, Home Office
â Helen Connolly, CLG
â Lisa Doyle, The Refugee Council
â Ludi Simpson, University of Manchester
23. THANK YOU!
For further information or Research Team
discussion please
⢠Angus McCabe
contact Angus McCabe
Third Sector Research Centre
⢠a.j.mccabe@bham.ac.uk
⢠0121 415 8561
⢠Alison Gilchrist
Independent Consultant
⢠Asif Afridi
BRAP
⢠Paul Kyprianou
Praxis CIC
⢠Kevin Harris
Local Level