A new report released today by national charity 4Children, with support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Families New to the UK: Confident families in cohesive communities argues that families who are new to the UK can contribute to Britain's economic recovery with help and support which fosters integration and independence.

The report highlights the difficulties and challenges families who move to the UK face and details how local services such as English language courses play a fundamental role in helping families new to the UK to become capable, confident members of society. With as many as 50% of children born in London having been born to mothers who were themselves born outside the UK, the report argues that key services which aid integration and build social capital between communities are a sound investment in the future.

The report highlights how immigration brings a net income of £6bn a year to the UK and will play a significant role in easing challenges associated with the ageing population[i]. Many local authorities currently provide a range of essential services which help and support families to adjust to life in the UK. Services which have proved popular and effective in helping to create cohesive communities include tailored Sure Start Children's Centre sessions; 'welcome' packs; information services, English language and parenting courses. Today, 4Children highlights that with Government and Local Authorities facing tough spending decisions it is important to continue to invest in services which can help families new to the UK to become active and contributing members of society.

The report also highlights that some first generation migrants continue to be too dependent on younger family members with a better grasp of English through their school and social interactions. This puts too much responsibility on children and young people and can be stressful and create cultural challenges.

Why integration support services matter for families new to the UK

1. There are hundreds of thousands of families who are new to the UK[ii], the majority of whom want to make a significant contribution to the society they are joining. Key services provide vital support for building social capital and aiding transition to being integrated, confident and productive members of society

2. Despite investment in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and professional guidelines prohibiting it, too many children are regularly called up to act as interpreters for parents

3. Cohesive communities are stronger and more capable of rallying support for community led social action (as proposed by the Big Society ethos) which is good for communites and good for the public purse

Families New to the UK: Confident families in cohesive communities makes the following recommendations to local authorities:

1. Protection of local funding for welcome packs and support for groups which build 'bonding social capital'. Welcome packs and support groups should be available or run in local community facilities such as Sure Start Children's Centres and libraries.

2. Children and Family Centres to provide support to families throughout childhood. Some Children and Family Centres have built upon the Sure Start model of early years support and have brought together services for families with children up to age 19. These centres provide the kind of holistic, integrated 'one stop shop' support that all families, but particularly those who are new to the UK need.

3. Parenting support for families as their children grow, which includes support to bridge the cultural gap. In particular, professionals such as teachers and social workers should be trained to recognise the cultural gap that can develop between parents and children over rules and boundaries and provide support to overcome these challenges.

Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive of 4Children said: "During our conversations with families during this research we were again reminded that what all parents want for their children is a good start in life and the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Families who have moved to the UK from elsewhere tell us they want to work; pay taxes and help people, just like everyone else. They just need help and support from dependable local services to get there."

"At a time when our economy needs as many people contributing to the recovery as possible, relatively small investments in such services represent good value for money in the long term to help families achieve the ambitions they have invested so much in".

Andrew Barnett, Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK, said: "The shape of British society has changed dramatically in recent decades. Our communities and families are more diverse, with many children born to parents from outside the UK or brought here as asylum seekers or economic migrants in search of a better life. With our interest in understanding the impact of these demographic shifts on individuals, families and communities, and in assisting all members of society to fulfil their potential, we were keen to look at what might be done to ensure that families new to the UK are able to flourish; giving their children the best possible start in life and contributing to the community as a whole."

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For further information or to request an interview, please contact: Julie Evans on 0207 522 6928 / 0791 767 0641 or email Julie.Evans@4Children.org.uk.

Download a copy of Families New to the UK; Confident families in cohesive communities, from 4Children's website.

View article on Children & Young People Now Magazine

4Children
4Children is the national charity that is all about children and families. In addition to running frontline support services for families across the country, 4Children has just completed a national 18 month inquiry into family life in the UK, chaired by Esther Rantzen CBE. As part of the inquiry, the charity consulted with 10,000 families across the country about their fears and ambitions for the future. As a result, 4Children is ideally placed to comment on the support needs of families in modern Britain and how measures introduced to tackle the deficit may impact on households of different structures, sizes and social backgrounds. www.4children.org.uk

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is an international charitable foundation with cultural, educational, social and scientific interests. Based in Lisbon with branches in London and Paris, the Foundation is in a privileged position to support transnational work tackling contemporary issues in Europe. The purpose of the UK Branch in London is to connect and enrich the experiences of individuals, families and communities with a special interest in supporting those who are most disadvantaged. Its current work focuses on four areas: cultural understanding, fulfilling potential, the environment and maximising social and cultural value. For further information see www.gulbenkian.org.uk