Token Gestures - the effects of the voucher scheme on asylum seekers and organisations in the UK

Token Gestures - the effects of the voucher scheme on asylum seekers and organisations in the UK

Description: "This report is a summary of a more extensive report intended to feed into the current Government review of vouchers and to inform public debate on this issue.

It is the first attempt to assess in any detail the impact of the scheme, and is based on the views of over 50 organisations working with asylum seekers across the UK.

It is supported by the Transport and General Workers’ Union, Oxfam GB and the Refugee Council, with further endorsement from the Body Shop, and the Asylum Rights Campaign [a network of over 80 organisations working on refugee issues in the UK]).

The main objectives of this summary and the wider report are:

· To respond to the theoretical arguments in relation to vouchers
· To provide evidence of the difficulties faced by asylum-seekers as a result of the introduction of the NASS voucher scheme

They set out the case against vouchers, encompassing its cost, the impact on race relations, and its questionable legality. It includes a survey of the experiences of 50 organisations working with asylum seekers, including case studies.

Many organisations suggested that the administration of the system should be improved and that change should be given. But overwhelmingly the organisations participating in the survey did not want to see the perpetuation of a reformed voucher system. They wanted to see it replaced with a fairer system that promotes the welfare of their clients.

Based on the evidence set out in the report, the organisations above therefore make a number of recommendations to improve the system of support for asylum seekers. Chief among these is that change should immediately be given to asylum seekers for unspent portions of vouchers and that the abolition of vouchers and the restoration of a cash-based system should follow as soon as practically possible.

Finally, we propose a framework of principles for providing support for asylum seekers."

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