Speaking Out Briefing No. 9: Rural migrant children, families and young people

Migrant workers have been the subject of increasing media interest and public concern in recent years; however migration to the UK, particularly to rural areas, is far from new. Irish migrants for example travelled to England throughout the eighteenth century to carry out seasonal work at harvest time. The pattern of migration to the UK has undoubtedly changed in the last few years with increased visibility of migrant workers in rural areas and towns, leaving policy makers both unprepared and unaware of their needs, particularly those migrants arriving with
children.

Migrants and their families living and working in rural areas of the UK have brought with them a range of opportunities and challenges for local authorities, central government, such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the voluntary and community sector and other organisations providing
frontline services to communities. This briefing explores some of the key issues facing migrant children, families and young people in rural areas, including language barriers and access to housing, education, transport and childcare provision. The briefing also addresses issues facing young people from the host community in
rural areas, such as community cohesion and potential tension over resources and employment opportunities.

Although this briefing focuses specifically on rural migrants, some of the issues mentioned also affect migrants living in urban areas. Whilst a wide range of migrants from varying countries and backgrounds are living in the UK, this briefing focuses on migrants from eight of the accession (A8) countries that joined the European Union
in May 2004 , who form the majority of migrants in rural areas.

This briefing paper examines:

• the policy context for rural migrant children, families and young people;

• the legal context;

• relevant findings from research and practice;

• possible implications for voluntary and community sector children and youth

• organisations; and

• useful resources in relation to this issue.

To download the full briefing: Speaking Out Briefing No. 9: Rural migrant children, families and young people (PDF)
Published August 2008

To request hard copies of this or any other Speaking Out briefing paper, please contact us on 020 7278 1041 or email speakingout@ncvys.org.uk