Researcher: Nina Gurung, MA International Social Policy ...

Researcher: Nina Gurung, MA International Social Policy, UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Part-Funded by : South East Strategic Partnership for Migration (SESPM)
Research Supervisors: Prof. Peter Taylor-Gooby; Dr. Lavinia Mitton

Kent
� Ashford,
� Maidstone,
� Folkestone
Rushmoor
� Farnborough,
� Aldershot
� * Both regions, with their Army bases are considered key Gurkha-centric areas.
Total Research Participants n=100, from different families =data in relation to 100
families
� Ratio of Male: Female Participants : 50:50
� Ratio of Working Age/ineligible for old age related welfare assistance :
Retirement Age/eligible for Old Age Related Benefits*: 80:20
*Post Gurkha Justice Campaign victory (April 2008), many older veterans became
eligible for settlement in UK and thereby, earnings-related and old-age related
benefits

� Questionnaire with 42 questions aimed at exploring
� Settlement/Concentration Patterns
� Integration Levels
� Barriers and Opportunities for Integration
� Other Research Objectives: Studying/Establishing
� Provide an indepth knowledge of the Gurkha community’s needs, strengths and resources to develop
appropriate recommendations on partnership work possibilities with the community to achieve two
important goals:
1. Better integration of Gurkhas in all aspects of the mainstream society
2. Promotion of long-term positive relationship where both Gurkhas and their receiving communities
can learn from one another and live in harmony with respect for each other’s common experiences e.g.
aspirations, struggles, as well as differences, e.g. culture, race, religion.
� Best Practice Examples
� Government/Local Authority Policy Responses, Outreach Work to Aid Settlement and Integration
process

1. Piloting the questionnaire with Medway Nepalese Community and refining questionnaire (if
necessary);
2. Informing Gurkha Community Leaders in respective research areas about the impending study,
request dissemination of research information sheet to community members prior to their
monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly community meetings ;
3. Attending scheduled community meetings, random selection of research participants from
groups of volunteers according to area, age, gender requirements, reiterate research rationale and
objectives, obtain informed consent ; data collection from volunteer participants. (Researcher
present throughout for clarification/interpretation into Nepali language and help with filling
questionnaires if necessary)
Data Analysis Based On:
•Area
•Gender
•Age-group
•Indicators of and factors contributing to settlement concentration,
•Indicators of and factors contributing to integration
•Community’s Presenting Needs
•Areas of Community Strength and Resources
•Best practice

SOME FACTS AND FIGURES
Expected no. of Gurkhas eligible for Settlement post GJC :
10,000+, and their dependants
Funding Received by RBC from Migration Impact Fund : £120,000
Funding Received by KCC : £0.00
FINDINGS FROM RESEARCH:
•Average, Minimum and Maximum Age: 47.63; 23; 80
•Average Family Size, Min, Max: 3.85; 1; 7
•Average no. of Children, Min, Max: 1.97; 0; 5
•Average Length of Stay in UK, Min, Max: 5.78;

1%
13%
8%
13%
4%
9%
1%
Gurkha Settlement Patterns
6%
21%
24%
27%
11%
3% 4%
Gurkha Home Ownership Rate : 56%
HOME OWNERSHIP NATIONAL FIGURES FOR WOKING & MIXED HOUSEHOLDS:
Owned Outright in April-June 2011: 39% & 56.4% respectively
Buying with Mortgage in April-June 2011: 68.8% & 27.2% respectively
Source: ONS, 2011 (Households by housing tenure and combined economic
activity status of household members TABLE D) W
55%

Gurkha Integration Indicators:
Based on HO Conceptual Framework Defining Core Domains of Integration
(Agar and Strang, 2008)
�EMPLOYMENT
�National Employment rate : 70.7 % ; South East : 75% (ONS Labour Market Statistics, Apr-Jun
2011);
�National rates for Males % in Full-time work: 61%, in P/T work: 22% (ONS ; Nov, 2009)
� National rates for Females % in Full-time work: 39%, in P/T work: 78%
Gurkhas in Employment: Higher than EU A8 (91%, Khan, 2008)
�Under 60 Males n= 80 (including male spouses) in Employment: 95.1% (Including 8.8% Selfemployed/Employer)
�Travel to Work: 87.5%
�Work Hours: 92.5% in Full-time Work, 1.3% in P/T work, 2.5% in Temp. Work; 8.8% selfemployed
�Under 60 Females n=80 (including female spouses): 92.6% (Including 1.3% Selfemployed/Employer)
�Travel to Work: 77.5%
�Work Hours: 61.3% in Full-Time work, 23.8% in P/T work, 5% in temp., 1.3% Selfemployed/employer
Comnparatively, proportion of working age people in workless households for other ethnic groups
(ONS, Social Trends, 2008):
Chinese ethnic group: 25% Pakistani/Bangladeshi : 21% Black African: 23% Other Black: 22%
Indian ethnic group: 10% Other Asians: 16% Black Caribbean 20%

(MALES n=80, including male spouses)

(FEMALES n=80 including female spouses)

GURKHA EMPLOYERS , EMPLOYMENT SECTOR
& NO. OF EMPLOYEES

AGE-GROUP RELATED EMPLOYMENT RATES

2. HOUSING:
�ACCESSING HOUSING BENEFITS = 14%
3. HEALTH
�ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES = 100%

4. EDUCATION & TRAINING
�ACCESSING/ACCESSED EDUCATION SERVICES = 44%
�ACCESSING/ACCESSED SKILLS IMPROVEMENT TRAINING SERVICES = 40%

5. OTHER FACTORS (essential in maintaining standard
of living, quality of life and citizenship rights):
�PARTAKING IN LEISURE ACTIVITIES = 81%
�ACCESSING WELFARE BENEFITS = 16% Pension Credits (1% Application in
Process)
1% Pension Credits + DLA

AGE-GROUP RELATED
ACCESS TO WELFARE BENEFITS

GURKHA COMMUNITY’S NEEDS/BARRIERS
TO INTEGRATION
NEED ADDITIONAL INFO, HELP AND ADVICE IN :
•ACCESSING EDUCATION: 70%
• ACCESSING SKILLS IMPROVEMENT TRAINING: 76%
•APPLYING FOR APPLICABLE HOUSING BENEFITS: 38%
•APPLYING FOR APPLICABLE WELFARE BENEFITS: 49%
•ACCESSING LOCAL LEISURE FACILITIES/ACTIVITIES: 63%
•LEARNING ABOUT LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROVIDERS: 91%
•FOR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING: 78%

DETERMINANTS IN SETTLEMENT AND INTEGRATION PATTERNS
Settlement Indicators (rated Very Important by participants):
Affordable Housing: 70%
Familiarity with Area: 57%
Living near amenities: 44%
Living near colleagues: 35%
Living near relatives: 47%;
Living near work: 46%
Living near children’s educational facilities: 67%
Living near own community: 46%
Living in a friendly neighbourhood: 68%
Living in a safe neighbourhood: 83%
Living near transport: 59%
Living near shops selling Nepalese products: 33%
OVERALL Indications: affordable housing, living near children’s
educational facilities, living in a friendly and safe neighbourhoods are most
important determinants in settlement patterns (minimal differences in agegroup
based, regional and area-based outcomes apply)

OTHER FACTORS RATED VERY IMPORTANT
BY PARTICIPANTS FOR LIFE IN UK
Learning English language: 79%
Practicing own religion: 42%
Observing own culture and tradition: 40%
Socialising with friends: 60%
Community support network: 63%
Living in harmony with neighbours: 63%
Learning about British culture: 43%; 39% (rated Imp.)
Following British habits and ways of life: 24%; 36%
Making British friends- 35%, 46%
Children in Education, Employment and Training: 79%
OVERALL Indications: learning English language, socialising with friends,
community support network, living in harmony with neighbours, children in
education, employment and training are deemed most important by Gurkha
participants in UK (minimal differences in age-group based, regional and
area-based outcomes apply)

AREAS OF COMMUNITY STRENGTHS &
RESOURCES/OPPORTUNITIES IN INTEGRATION
Done voluntary work : 71%
Considered doing voluntary work: 92%
HO Citizenship Survey (2001): Higher socio-economic groups, higher qualified and
employed=higher volunteering activities. Highest =79% among degree and post-grads
Very High % Seek Consultation when making important decisions: 93%
Those who sought help/advice before coming to UK: 76%
Those who sought help/advice after coming to UK: 84%
CHILDREN:
In Education, Employment, Training : 75%
Trying to get into EET: 7%
NEET: 4%

BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES
MAIDSTONE
F’BOROUGH

DISCUSSION:
IMPLICATIONS for
present and future?
•For host communities, community cohesion
•For Gurkha/Nepalese migrants (young, old, children)
•For community at large
•For policymakers
•Any lessons to be learnt? Any constructive solutions to aid wider, more even
dispersal?
END -OF -PRESENTATION

SUPPLEMENTARY INFO:
AREA-BASED DIFFERENCES

Integration indicators re: education, health, skills improvement, welfare, leisure ETC

MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS WHEN CHOOSING RESIDENCE IN UK

THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT WHEN LIVING IN UK
/INTEGRATION INDICATORS