The Barka pilot project in Hammersmith and Fulham: a model for working with Polish street drinkers

In May 2004 A8  countries gained accession status with no restriction of the free movement of workers to the UK. Following this, numbers of migrant workers entering the UK far exceeded government estimates. Although the vast majority have successfully found employment and housing, an increasing number of authorities are becoming aware of migrant workers from A8 countries who have not successfully found employment and are engaging in street population activities including street drinking, rough sleeping, begging and associated Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) and low level crime. These individuals, like existing street populations, are vulnerable to a range of threats including ill health, exploitation, crime and often have histories of alcohol problems, homelessness or mental health issues.

The conditions of accession for such migrants into the UK means that those who have not gained full entitlement through registering on the Workers Registration Scheme (WRS) and being in employment for a period of one year, do not have recourse to public funds, services or interventions that non-A8 street populations have. Although there is no definitive guidance on many areas such as healthcare, generally accessional migrants cannot receive support beyond primary medical care and cannot receive any housing benefits or rehabilitation treatment. This leaves local authorities experiencing problems with accessional migrant street populations very limited options in terms of addressing the needs of such individuals and the issues they present.

• The Barka pilot project in Hammersmith and Fulham: A summary by H&F's Alcohol Strategy Development Officer, James Morris, gives results of the first month of an innovative partnership between H&F, Broadway and the Barka Foundation that works with street homeless Polish migrant workers through reconnecting them with treatment and/or their families in their home country.  A full 6 month evaluation will be produced in November assessing the successes and challenges to the pilot and the potential for developing the pilot regionally.

 

• See also the NTA-commissioned report from the University of Hertfordshire - Beyond Boundaries: Offering substance misuse services to new migrants in London  The report, published last month, "represents the first detailed examination there has been into the use of drug treatment services by newly arrived populations."  Although focussed on illicit drugs, it talks about alcohol as a possible gateway drug for A8 migrants, and also recommends that government should

"work towards the development of a Europe wide ‘Reconnections’ programme.   Thereby engaging with migrants and encouraging the most vulnerable to return home to resolve problems in the area where they have greatest social capital"