How holistic support is helping refugees fulfil their goals
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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 is developing 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 fabrication
Digital fabrication is a key skills need for the region, and we’re planning on training 250 future makes in this exciting new skill
Migrant entrepreneurs granted funding start-up social enterprises
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
FREE Art Workshops
October - November 2019
Do you want to use your creativity to harness the power of our diverse communities? Get involved in our FREE […]
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Book a Legal Health Check
2019 - 2020
How is your knowledge of everyday law? Do you understand your own situation in areas such as: Immigration: Am I […]
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DIY, Decorating & Carpentry Courses – Coventry
2019 - 2020 (4 days a week)
Our Pop-up Furniture Factory is up and running in Coventry! We are now offering accredited Level 1 courses with FabLab […]
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Now Recruiting! Volunteer Health Champions
2019 - 2020
We are looking for enthusiastic, resourceful individuals with the ability to raise awareness, champion health messages and to transform health […]
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Meet social entrepreneur Ali Abdul: How holistic support is helping refugees fulfil their goals
July 10, 2019
Since launching in March 2018, MiFriendly Cities has been developing a holistic employment and skills initiative which aims to go […]
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Refugee Week: MiFriendly Cities Refugee Entrepreneurship & Skills Event
June 17, 2019
Birmingham is celebrating Refugee Week with a series of events starting on Monday (17 June) which will showcase success stories […]
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Social Innovation Pitch Day
May 13, 2019
On Saturday 30 March, MiFriendly Cities held its Social Innovation Pitch Day in Birmingham, where a panel of judges and […]
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This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
