Community Integration Forum

Introduction to the Community Integration Forum

The role of the Community Integration Forum is to co-ordinate and provide collaboration across the mainstream services, NGO, community and voluntary organisations for Ukrainian refugees, IP applicants and Those with Status, and where applicable, the IRPP.

This forum acts as a collaborative network and working group for the supports being provided. Driven and chaired by the Chief Executive of the Local Authority, the Group  consists of the representatives of key stakeholders and service providers at management level within the county.   

The Community Integration Forum will:

• Work collaboratively across the mainstream services, NGO, community and voluntary organisations, in providing local services and initiatives to the target groups outlined above.
• Act as an information source on local services and establish local area response teams to identify how best services can be provided to new arrivals and existing residents across the county.
• Enable the sharing of communication briefings on new accommodation centres opening in the county.
• Monitor the experience and resilience of existing community services and supports, and escalate any issues identified as appropriate.
• Define and agree the nature of the support that can be provided by the agencies represented on the forum and by community volunteers.
• Harness offers of assistance from enterprises/businesses/volunteers, as well as community goodwill, by encouraging any additional local supports that can be provided.
• Manage and direct offers of assistance to ensure that specific identified needs are met.
• Agree on unified communications and key messages from the Group, as far as practicable, in relation to external communications.
• Each agency or group represented on the IAWG to advocate and support the initiatives and supports being provided through their national networks and within the local community.