The Migration Partnership Multi-Agency drop-in was established in 2022 to provide comprehensive migrant-led support and services to migrant communities in Barnsley, as well as a collaborative platform for various agencies to address migrant community needs, foster partnerships, and offer accessible services. The drop-ins have a multi-faceted structure and work to provide holistic and equitable service provision whilst also fostering community engagement, empowerment, and strategic local influence that pursues migration justice through a collective voice.
3 years on, in 2025, the partnership is still fostering a meaningful community impact. From January to March of this year, we have supported 244 people across 34 services and have added 10 new services to our capacity, including the South Yorkshire Pathways to Work Initiative, BMBC Public Health Officer, Barnsley Families Information Service, and a Hate Crime Coordinator. This range of co-ordinated services are tailored to the needs of migrants across the region and engineered to efficiently respond to both immediate needs and long term goals. This broad, collaborative design is an innovative approach to service delivery and ensures that intersectionality and justice are incorporated across the entire drop-in. The partnership embodies the understanding that migration justice means health justice, legal justice, work justice, gender and sexuality justice, racial justice, disability justice. Throughout its provision, the partnership has identified key long term integration goals based on the needs of the community that we serve, and therefore works to provide access to services relating to these. The key goals are:
- Language Support
- Legal Advice and Immigration Assistance
- Health and Wellbeing Services
- Employment and Skills Development
- Housing and Welfare Guidance
- Community Integration and Social Support
Collaboration remains essential and central to enabling the holistic, responsive nature of the drop-ins and allowing for a dynamic response to the evolving needs of migrants and refugees in Barnsley. The drop-ins function as hubs for collaborative networking- where partners can identify client needs in real time and coordinate targeted responses quickly and compassionately. This continued engagement between partners and community has led to improved service delivery and has built trust and empowerment among migrants. Efficient, meaningful collaboration has meant delays have been reduced and responses for complex cases have been made possible through effective referrals within the network. In addition to providing an innovative space for holistic and dynamic service delivery, the collaboration at the drop-ins allow for informed proposals for the future which has facilitated stronger, wider community engagement and partnership from specialist organisations like education and domestic violence services. This in turn builds our local influence using a collective voice, which has the power to meaningfully identify and meet the needs of migrant communities in Barnsley. Our partners also noted that the drop-in works to promote independence among service users – with regular engagement allowing for professionals to build strong relationships with individuals which encourages self-advocacy.
The multi-agency partnership also facilitates leadership development and community empowerment, a key aspect of Migrant Action’s strategy for migration justice. A highlight of the last few months has been the recognition of five Community Champions, who played an instrumental role in co-producing an Adult Safeguarding Training and Workbook. These Champions, all members of the migrant community, received training and contributed valuable insights to ensure the safeguarding materials were culturally appropriate and accessible. Certificates were awarded to the Champions in a special presentation, celebrating their contribution to empowering migrant women and promoting culturally sensitive practice among professionals.
A 2025 highlight for the partnership drop-in so far would be the International Women’s Day Event held as part of our cultural integration activities. 73 people attended the special event to celebrate the strength and diversity of women in the community. The event created a welcoming space where women from different cultural backgrounds came together to connect, share food, and engage in conversations around empowerment and inclusion. There was also the distribution of sanitary products as part of Migrant Action’s reproductive justice campaign, which highlighted the intersection of migration justice with issues of health and gender inequality. The event not only promoted community cohesion but also demonstrated a shared commitment to tackling barriers faced by migrant and refugee women.
Overall, the migration partnership drop-ins have had a broad ranging effect resulting in increased access to essential services, improved social cohesion and community integration, and individual empowerment. People attending the weekly sessions have provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, consistently expressing gratitude for the empathetic, professional support they received. One of the most recurring themes was the value of being able to communicate in individuals’ own language, which many reported enabled them to feel confident and comfortable which in turn allowed for tailored support. The drop ins have been praised on our meaningful employment support; emotional and practical support for survivors; access to essential services; resolution of complex issues; health access and advocacy; education and volunteering opportunities; legal and immigration support; emergency support; support for single parents, and our community collaboration. Many people we supported said they would recommend the drop-in sessions to others in need. The welcoming atmosphere and multi-agency cooperation were often described as reassuring, efficient, and empowering.
Whilst the work of the multi-agency drop ins provides an invaluable impact on migrant communities in Barnsley, there remain systemic and structural barriers for migrants in Barnsley and all over the UK. Our support sessions, drop-ins, and one-to-one interactions with migrants have revealed people accessing our service continued to experience a range of complex and interlinked challenges:
- Language barriers
- Legal complexity
- Access to healthcare
- Housing instability
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Digital exclusion
- Financial hardship
- Employment and skills barriers
- Modern slavery
- Social isolation
- Discrimination and racism
It is only through continued collaboration, solidarity and compassion with migrant communities that we can adequately meet the needs of individuals and work to transform the systemic challenges which affect their wellbeing, integration and hope for rebuilding thriving and fulfilling lives in the UK.
To get involved with the partnership please contact info@migrantaction.org.uk or to read the full report head to our Migration Justice Library
