Wales Strategic Migration Partnership (WSMP)
Enabling a rights based approach to the inclusion of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Wales
Established in 2001 the Wales Strategic Migration Partnership (WSMP) for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants works with stakeholders in the statutory, voluntary, private and community sectors to provide strategic leadership, advisory and coordination function on migration in Wales. There are Migration Partnerships in Scotland and Northern Ireland and in each of the English Regions, forming a national infrastructure.
The WSMP is hosted by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) to reflect the Partnership’s all Wales role around migration and to help foster closer working with the 22 local authorities in Wales; improving links with local government’s political structures and local priorities. The team currently consists of:
- Anne Hubbard – Director
- Emma Maher – Wales Refugee Resettlement Coordinator
- Erica Williams – ESOL Coordinator
- Pat Westow – Partnership Administrator
The Partnership’s aims are to:
- Facilitate collaboration and debate among UK Visas and Immigration, national, regional and local government and non-governmental organisations and regional and local stakeholders to develop a strategic approach to promoting the benefits of migration refugee resettlement and minimising any adverse impacts
- Contribute to the development and implementation of local and national migration policy
- Work with local delivery partners to design and oversee delivery of services that meet asylum seekers, refugees and migrants needs in that region / national area, facilitating multi-agency co-ordination
- Act as a conduit for two-way information between the Home Office and other government departments and national partners.
The Wales Strategic Migration Partnership’s Executive Board meets quarterly to:
- ensure a coordinated approach to migration; and
- share information and good practice.
The Board’s meetings are chaired by Cllr Susan Elsmore and are attended by elected members and senior officers from a number of local authorities in Wales.
Wales Migration Portal
For access to the Wales Migration Portal, which brings together publicly available migration data for the first time in one place. The Portal is simple and intuitive to use and provides users with a range of migration data and contextual information, bilingually, in table and map form.