Ending the parallel welfare system for people in the migration system — how to get involved
Sarah Cutler, co-director at Migration Exchange, explains how our new partnership is bringing people together to end the harmful and unfair ‘no recourse’ (NRPF) policy which excludes people from accessing government support when they are in need.
The NRPF policy affects millions of people in the UK, unfairly shutting people out of the welfare system and government support based on their visa status. Impacted communities, charities, lawyers, local authorities are all pushing to end this policy. Our partnership with Citizens UK and Praxis aims to amplify and enable this movement so it is better resourced and connected to win change. We need your help and support — whether you are an individual campaigner, a charity concerned about the system or a funder who wants to contribute to change. Read on to see how you can get involved and please get in touch if you have ideas or questions.
What is the NRPF policy?
No recourse to public funds (NRPF) is a government policy which prevents most people who have migrated to the UK from accessing the welfare system and most forms of government support when they’re in need. Exact figures are hard to come by but it is estimated that about 2.6 million people in the UK are deprived of a safety net because of the conditions on their visa, while approximately 624,000 people have insecure immigration status and have NRPF by default. (If you’d like to learn more, read this excellent briefing by Praxis or this blog post by Free Movement.)
The NRPF rule creates hierarchies between those who are deserving and undeserving of support. Although it has been in place since 1971, its application was extended to many groups as part of the hostile environment in 2012. The hostile environment itself is a product of a colonial history which has and continues to perpetrate violence against migrant communities and migrant communities of colour in particular, while reinforcing social exclusion based on race and immigration status. Those who have permission to stay on a “route to settlement” (i.e. a visa pathway that can lead to permanent residency in the UK) can be subject to NRPF conditions for 5 years, 10 years or even longer, depending on which type of route to settlement they are on.
People seeking asylum are barred from accessing the welfare safety net as well, and can only receive a living allowance of just over £5 per day. The consequences of this policy are devastating: it traps individuals and entire families into cycles of poverty, pushes people into homelessness and leaves children hungry.
About the NRPF partnership
The NRPF partnership is a new, collective impact partnership set up in 2023 and being developed by Migration Exchange, Citizens UK and Praxis. The Partnership is working to build collaboration across organisations, amplify their work, and build power to win change. Together, we aim to enable the movement to end the NRPF condition. Our approach is grounded in our values of anti-racism and transparency. We are drawing on our research published in 2023 that showed that more organisations and funders want support to collaborate more and influence systems, as well as a listening process undertaken by Citizens UK.
We are working in three key ways.
Firstly, ensuring decision-making power and strategic vision is in the hands of people doing the work (frontline staff and people with lived experience)
Secondly, establishing a strategic pooled fund so that the steering group has sufficient budget to guide the collaboration, act, identify and seize opportunities, and facilitate equitable participation of everyone involved.
Thirdly, expanding the movement and building power, using incremental wins to build towards broader change towards the goal of ending NRPF.
What we have done so far
In February, we had our first large convening, bringing together over 60 people from frontline charities, grassroots organisations, expert by experience campaigns, research and policy roles and funders. It was wonderful to hear the wisdom and passion in the room and people’s ideas of how to build collective strength. You can see their amazing and inspiring contributions in these visual minutes.
We have also been connecting with networks and organisations in different regions through in person meetings and online sessions and will be doing more of this in the spring and summer 2024.
We have been fundraising and have secured commitments of just over £2 million over five years to this work, with more applications pending decision. Six trusts and foundations have so far contributed to a pooled fund or towards specific aligned activities (such as funding for learning and evaluation)..
How can I get involved?
- Share the Call for applications for the Steering Group — the people who will drive this partnership strategy. Encourage great people to apply for this opportunity.
- Get in touch if you are a funder who would consider making a contribution to this exciting work or be connected to the organisations already doing excellent things on the frontline.
- Complete this Expression of interest form if you want to be involved in any way and to stay connected.
- Share your ideas and questions — we would love to hear from you.
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Interested in collaboration? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us on mex@global-dialogue.org
Migration Exchange is hosted at Global Dialogue, a registered charity (1122052) partnering with philanthropy to advance rights, equity and diversity.
