The first asylum seekers and refugees started arriving in Peterborough, United Kingdom in 1997 and are mainly from Africa. The asylum seekers and refugees are from diverse cultural backgrounds. Due to a language barrier i.e. English being a second language, most find it difficult to integrate into British society.
They lack information and advice on essential matters including immigration, education, training, employment and housing and social welfare benefits. Thus they live in isolation and deprivation. The asylum seekers and refugees suffer from the inability to access resources. They more are likely to suffer form; poor health, unemployment, low income and low uptake of service provision and opportunities. They can also experience poverty, discrimination, racism, social exclusion, poor housing and are unlikely to access leisure and recreational activities.
The asylum seekers and refugees find themselves without any support from key workers or trained volunteers to ensure their welfare rights are protected as required by the legislation. Also they do not seem to get proper social education or the right advice on integrating into the host society. Statutory and voluntary service providers in Peterborough have no experience in dealing with the target group (French, Swahili, Lingala, Kikongo, Kirundi, Bambara and Tshiluba).
In November 2002, people from the African refugee community in Peterborough came together to set up an organisation to address these needs. The organisation became known as the Peterborough African Refugee Community Association (PARCA).However In 2008 the organisation changed its name to the POOR AFRICAN REFUGEES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (PARCA) in order to incorporate not only the Greater Peterborough but throughout the United Kingdom and Africa.
The Peterborough Council for Voluntary Services (PCVS) has played a vital role in support of PARCA in its endeavor to serve the refugee community.
PARCA has been set up in order to fill this gap. There is no doubt that there is a large proportion of the targeted people in the dispersal areas including Cambridgeshire. Desperate initiatives have been undertaken in the past trying to achieve an overall action plan for possible activities of the organisation. They failed mainly because they were led on a volunteering basis and lacked leading members willing to sit and address objectively all issues facing the refugee community.
Mission Statement
We aim to improve the condition of life for the Refugees and Asylum Seekers from all the African Continent that now reside in the Greater Peterborough and its surrounding areas.
We also aim to support people from different nationalities, faith and communities to allow them to develop greater levels of understanding about the UK lifestyles. We encourage diversity in the United Kingdom and Greater Peterborough areas.
PARCA has a smooth process which will allow families to play a full part in the wider society in achieving effective integration and community cohesion.
Vision
Our vision is to become a ONE-STOP SHOP for all Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the Greater Peterborough areas.
PARCA encourages Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Black Minority Ethnic, Migrants and Local Communities to participate in regular leisure and recreational activities inclusive of all age groups, gender, ethnic origin, able bodied and disabled within all social aspects of entertainment
