Learn about the development of MiFriendly Cities and how we plan to make the West Midlands a more 'Migration Friendly' place...
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In October 2017 the EU’s Urban Innovative Actions fund awarded more than £4m to Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton for the MiFriendly Cities project, a 3-year initiative that will look to develop innovative, community-led and sustainable approaches to enhancing the contribution of refugees and migrants across the region.
Our exciting programme has been designed to create opportunities for migrants and bring communities together, building cohesion across Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
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Migrants and refugees have helped to develop this initiative and to establish what makes a city ‘Migration Friendly’. With this grassroots approach we hope to see citizens across the community working with local businesses, government, and voluntary organisations to build a MiFriendly region together.
The project will continue to be shaped by the community across the 3-years, and we hope that this will encourage a spirit of solidarity, with the West Midlands becoming a place in which everyone feels a true sense of belonging.
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The project is being delivered by an innovative partnership of 11 organisations. These include the three city councils from Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Coventry, a multinational company, a university, a law centre, a consultancy and three migrant-run charities.
All are working together to achieve one common goal, and to push the boundaries of what has been previously attempted in the EU.
Find Out MoreLearn more about our innovative programme of activities and find out how you or your organisation can get involved.
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Inger
Coventry
Coventry made me very welcome when I arrived as a migrant 20 years ago. We arrived before our belongings and our new neighbour immediately knocked with her spare kettle! Years later, and I still love Coventry for its curiosity and openness to new ideas, and many partnerships between different groups and communities
Debora
Coventry
We are so proud of being selected as City of Culture. There is such a diverse multi-cultural communities living together in harmony. Stoke Heath Community Centre, CV2 3QH, is working wonderfully with everyone who wishes to join our community projects
Neil
Coventry
For me a MiFriendly City is a place where all are welcome and there is opportunity for all to build a life for themselves and their families
Nicole
Coventry
It's a place where everybody is supported to make a meaningful contribution to their community, whether they were born in that city or have recently arrived.
Gamika
Coventry
A place of inclusion, opportunity and welcome.
Sunairah
Coventry
I am a migrant myself, and if I didn’t have the right support from other people in Coventry I wouldn’t be where I am today. For me, the support of your neighbours and community is what makes a place migration friendly.
Employers reached by the MiFriendly Employment Brokers
We’re aiming to reach 2000 in 3 years, creating links between employers and our migrant communities and highlighting the skills available.
Refugees and migrants trained in digital manufacturing
Digital manufacturing is a key skills need for the region, and we’re planning on training 250 future makes in this exciting new skill.
Social Enterprises set up by refugees and migrants
We're supporting 16 refugee and migrant entrepreneurs to set up new businesses which have a social mission. Successful ideas get up to £5000 and mentoring to start up
Get £5000 to Start a Community Project
Apply by 30 January 2019
We are giving 15 projects up to £5,000 in start-up funding, plus expert support to improve social integration in innovative ways. […]
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Share My Language: Spoken Word Workshops Coventry
11 January - 15 February 2019
Would you like to explore using spoken word to share your story? As part of our Share My Language programme, […]
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Start your own Social Enterprise – Birmingham
28 March 2019 – 18 April 2019
We are looking for refugees and migrants in Birmingham who would like to develop an innovative business idea that could help […]
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Train to be a Citizen Social Scientist
March - May 2019
MiFriendly Cities is offering refugees, migrants and asylum seekers the opportunity to join an accredited course with experienced researchers from […]
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Reflecting on 6 months of developing MiFriendly Cities in Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton
October 25, 2018
Managing the complexities of this multi-city initiative has meant six months filled with challenges, learning and innovative developments for the […]
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MiFriendly Cities project holds event to get Coventry community involved
September 25, 2018
Coventry is one of three local authorities from the West Midlands who have come together to deliver the MiFriendly Cities […]
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MiFriendly Cities holds official launch to celebrate funding for new opportunities for communities across the West Midlands
June 30, 2018
The UIA City of Coventry held its public launch for the MiFriendly Cities project at the city’s iconic cathedral on […]
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This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
