Definitions

Refugee: A refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion nationality, membership of a particular group, or political opinion, has left the country of their nationality and is unable to or is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country. A person granted refugee status in the UK is granted leave to remain in the UK. This entitles him or her to all the rights and benefits available to UK citizens (including the right to find legal work). The granting of indefinite leave to remain enables the individual to apply subsequently for full UK citizenship

Asylum Seeker: A person who has left their country of origin and formally applied for asylum in another country but whose application has not yet been concluded. In the UK, the term describes an individual who seeks by legal process to obtain leave to remain in the UK. While going through the legal process, the asylum seeker is provided with accommodation in one of the dispersal areas around the UK as well as weekly financial support by the National Asylum Seeker Service, NASS.

Refused Asylum Seeker: A person whose asylum application has been unsuccessful and who has no other claim for protection awaiting a decision. Some refused asylum seekers voluntarily return home, others are forcibly returned and for some it is not safe or practical for them to return until conditions in their country change. In the UK an individual whose application for asylum has been unsuccessful and who has therefore automatically lost their accommodation and financial support (failed asylum seekers may apply for support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, which consists of basic accommodation and vouchers if they meet certain conditions, for example have a significant medical problem).

Illegal immigrant: Someone whose entry into or presence in a country contravenes immigration laws.

Economic migrant: Someone who has moved to another country to work. Refugees are not economic migrants

Destitute: Someone who has no access to benefits or income and are either street homeless or does not have adequate accommodation or any means of obtaining it.

Refugees in UK: According to statistics from the Home Office, there are over 250,000 refugees in UK and many more asylum seekers. The LSE estimates there are 500,000 refused asylum seekers in the UK. Many asylum seekers are destitute. They are not permitted to work, they cannot get benefits and they may not speak fluent English to integrate within the community.

Refugees in Coventry: During the 19th and 20th centuries people came to Coventry from across England, Scotland and Wales, the Commonwealth and Ireland to settle here, and in the 1970s the city made a new home for East African refugees fleeing from Uganda and the regime of Idi Amin. More recently people have come to Coventry from Afghanistan, Iraq and African countries. It is estimated there are around 1,800 asylum seekers in Coventry and possibly around 10,000 refugees, These people represent over 40 countries and 60 languages.