The Benefits and Challenges of Including Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Paid and Unpaid Positions in Non-Governmental Organisations through ‘Experts by Experience’ programs

Abstract

With the increase in migration to Europe after the 2015–2016 ‘refugee crisis’, the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in society and the workplace became crucial. However, refugees find it difficult to obtain jobs with or without qualifications, whereas asylum seekers are restricted because of their legal status, affecting their right to work. NGOs working with refugees and asylum seekers have been trying to implement strategies for inclusion by involving more people with lived experience. However, are these efforts enough? What are the limitations and challenges of this approach? This paper investigates small-scale inclusion of asylum seekers and refugees in charities in the United Kingdom using qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews. It discusses the role charities play from the perspective of refugees, asylum seekers, and NGO workers. The paper will present a new concept in NGOs referred to as ‘experts by experience’ looking at its benefits and limitations.