Investing in Voices and CreatingOpportunitiesEntrepreneurial for All
Aysha Ahmed
A Camden mum and resident since 2010, I always felt like Camden is not only my home - it has become a way of life.
Living in Camden has shaped me into the person that I am today, and has equipped me with the skills to work as a Community Researcher (Somers Town Future Neighbourhoods 2030) and work in community engagement in various roles within the borough. Through my work, I have had the privilege of witnessing the profound and transformative effects of community engagement on the fabric of local communities.
Leading on from this project, I would like to learn more about deliberative democracy and resident-led policy making.
In this zine I am sharing findings from my research project, researching how a Community Wealth Fund can harness entrepreneurial opportunities for the refugee community and displaced families living in Camden.
I chose to conduct research with this particular demographic group because their hardships have not only been very challenging but have also been widely documented. I have had some open and meaningful conversations with residents and have been inspired by some of the stories that have been shared.
I have found that there are still numerous hidden barriers that hinder access to essential services. Additionally, this community are not acknowledged as potential entrepreneurs due to their challenging circumstances.
I hope that my research will shed light on these issues and encourage the Council to implement a more effective policy to engage with and support this community in accessing economic opportunities.
You will come across insightful quotes and case studies that capture the personal experiences and perspectives of individuals who have migrated to Camden. Their voices provide a unique and authentic portrayal of the challenges, triumphs, and emotions associated with their experiences.
I have
Certain voices are falling through the cracks
Camden Council Participation Officer
seen life through a different lens
Sabrina Camden Resident
Camden has a long standing history of being a place of refuge for families fleeing war. In the past decade alone Camden has homed hundreds of families/individuals from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
2011 Syrian conflict
Ethiopian conflict
Camden is part of a forum that helps refugees settle and become residents. It has officially been recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary because of its strong commitment to serving the refugee community.
In order to uphold its status as Borough of Sanctuary Camden is committed to creating a culture of inclusion, compassion, and growth for refugee families, and working with partners to reach the most vulnerable. Together, they are building Libraries of Sanctuary and places of connection where stories are shared and celebrated, inspiring positive change for all.
Camden Refugee Week 2024
To demonstrate its commitment to inclusion Camden celebrates Refugee Week every year, bringing together refugee communities from across the borough to celebrate and showcase their cultural experiences through creative storytelling; arts, food and exhibitions showcasing their cultural heritage.
“Working for my community is meaningful to me”
Lydi a - Camden Resident
Barriers to accessing entrepreneurial opportunities
En trepreneurship offers the potential to empower residents with financial independence and flexibility, positively transforming their lives. However, there are barriers that restrict access to entrepreneurial opportunities. Furthermore, for refugees to even achieve the basics to survive and integrate into their new community, entrepreneurialism is not a priority compared to access to housing, education and healthcare.
Restrictive eligibility criteria cuts off people from receiving funding and exploring business opportunities.
Lengthy and complicated application processes.
Credit checks are not always a true depiction of one’s financial capabilities.
Living on limited means with a family is a daily struggle, taking a loan will only add to this.
Access to training and adult learning are expensive.
Childcare options are expensive and limited.
Lack of flexible employment and training opportunities for parents.
Being housed away from family/support networks can feel very isolating.
Cutbacks to grants to support with living expenses.
A business loan only covers the business essentials not the wrap around costs.
Any type of funding can affect benefits and rent/ council tax.
Not enough information out there on how to apply for a loan and use it effectively and how to avoid falling into further debt.
Lack of networking opportunities.
Difficult to secure funding for not-for-profit organisations.
Language and cultural barriers.
Mental health issues due to unstable and overcrowded living conditions causing long-term illness.
Feeling hopeless and lacking motivation to explore opportunities to learn or earn because housing and wellbeing take priority.
Road Map to Accessing Opportunities for Entrepreneurialism
affordable room/space hire
flexible and affordable childcare options
tailored support to refugee communities by employing people with lived experiences rather than traditional outreach methods
transparency paid placements and flexible working opportunities for parents
clear criteria and eligibility for access to funding promote incentives to generate ‘own wealth’
subsidised training/mentoring opportunitiesoptions to make repayments after qualifying and earning from a job grants
low rent
trial periods for room hire
offer low risk investment opportunities from local stakeholderscommunity funding
consistency in communication and support
priority access for refugee/displaced communities
stability (secure housing)
credit check criteria to be more flexible and transparent
provide one-to-one support and mental health support
adopt a holistic approach from start to finish - not just in the set up stage
community ownership and stewardshipcommunity involvement throughout
‘Gaps in the Market’
“I miss not being able to buy Moroccantraditional clothing for myself and my children and feel that if I were able to sell these types of clothing, people would be interested.”
Carol* is an out-of-borough resident living in a temporary hostel with her children. Carol is of Moroccan heritage and misses not being able to buy traditional Moroccan clothing for herself and her children. This is a vital connection to their heritage and identity and Carol would love to have the opportunity to sell these items to help others like herself connect with their culture.
Barriers to achieving this are lack of access to secure housing and lack of knowledge/experience re running a business. Carol would need ongoing support to help set up and continue running the business. Carol would need to learn about legal and financial aspects of business.
“What I like about my idea is that I can also start very small and sell from home – but I would need a suitable accommodation to do that. In the future, I would like to sell from a shop or a stall, I would ask the council how to do that”
Carol feels that the Council needs to make it easier for people living in temporary accommodation to apply for investment from trusted sources, so instead of large-scale banks, apply for investment from local stakeholders with more flexible terms and smaller, low-risk amounts.
This story resonated with me because I could see her strong desire to connect with her culture and heritage. It also helped to identify a gap in the market. With support and stability, Carol can pursue a successful venture that holds much personal meaning to her.
*pseudonym Age 34
A Success Story
- Yorkshire Dama Cheese
Razan Al Sous fled war-torn Syria and relocated to the UK with her family. Despite holding a higher education certificate, she faced challenges finding employment. Nonetheless, she persevered and began exploring business opportunities that aligned with her passion for food. Following thorough market research and a feasibility study, Razan launched her business using a Start-Up loan of £2,500.
This opportunity opened multiple doors to success, as Razan has received numerous awards and recognition for her efforts.
It has also enabled her to expand her business further and set an inspiring example for the refugee community to seize entrepreneurial opportunities.
Benefits of access to opportunitiesentrepreneurial
Access to entrepreneurial opportunities can significantly improve the lives of refugees and contribute to their economic integration into the host community.
The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) is committed to support refugees in accessing entrepreneurial opportunities through financing, training, mentoring, and advisory programs. Since its inception, TERN has assisted over 100 refugees.
Alongside its partners, TERN has formulated The London Declaration for Refugee Entrepreneurs, a commitment to fostering greater inclusivity for refugee entrepreneurs by:
- Actively recruiting and embracing refugees in London’s mainstream business ecosystem
- I ncreasing investment in businesses led by refugees
- Am plifying funding and in-kind support for refugee founders
- Sh owcasing refugee-led businesses to London communities
This shows that entrepreneurialism thrives not only on funding and financial aspects, but also on being part of a supportive network, acquiring knowledge about business practices, and establishing an inclusive and educational platform.
‘Living
in a Birdcage’
During one of the interviews, a resident shared her experience of being homeless in Camden. She felt that she was unable to access the same services as other residents, as the hostel offers on-site support, which inadvertently creates barriers to integrating with the wider community.
“Living in the hostel is like looking out of a birdcage, I can see everything but not touch anything”
Stephanie* has been residing in the hostel for nearly two years.
While she appreciates the support provided, she finds it frustrating that most activities, including baby drop-ins, employability workshops, and general advice sessions, are only offered on-site. Stephanie feels that this hinders her access to services beyond the hostel, which could have helped her integrate into the local community.
At university, Stephanie started her own business selling hair products and hair bundles tailored to the African community. This endeavour was important to Stephanie, as it allowed her to connect with her cultural heritage and community. She received funding from the Prince’s Trust to support her business.
Stephanie shared that subsidised fees for enterprise training and paid placement opportunities would allow residents to gain insights into the functions of a business venture. There should also be clear criteria around eligibility for funding and more grants; no-stringsattached funding.
*Pseudonym
Age 28
The Ukrainian Community Hub
The Ukrainian Community Hub (UCH) was set up in August 2022 by a group of Ukrainians who had arrived in the UK earlier in 2013. They recognised the need for a space where Ukrainian war refugees could consult, connect and create a community network.
The Hub collaborates with Families 4 Peace ‘to empower Ukrainian refugees and help them regain independence’.
The Hub operates with the help of local volunteers and relies heavily on donations. Approximately 50-100 residents access the hub every week and travel from Camden and neighbouring boroughs.
Community hubs are a lifeline
Lydia
- Camden Resident
Challenges and aspirations of Ukrainian refugees
living in Camden
In the course of my research, I had the privilege of speaking with individuals who had fled Ukraine due to the war.
This community had left behind comfortable lives and hard-earned professions. Lydia*, a qualified bookkeeper in Ukraine, misses her former job and the financial independence it provided. She now volunteers at the Ukrainian Community Hub, finding fulfilment in giving back to her community. Lydia would like to work but lacks confidence in speaking English. She believes her qualifications and experience as a bookkeeper in Ukraine are not valued here. Lydia is currently claiming housing benefit to cover her rent while she looks for a job, but she would prefer to find opportunities for retraining and work in a field similar to her previous role.
Similarly, Serena* arrived in the UK with a background in the hair and beauty industry. She is currently pursuing her dream of setting up a holistic Health and Beauty Clinic, investing her own time and money aside from work to achieve her vision. Serena feels that the Council can encourage refugee entrepreneurship by offering reduced rent rates for refugees, low-interest repayable loans for business, and more accessible training opportunities. She also advocates for a fairer credit check process that accurately reflects individuals’ capabilities and encourages entrepreneurship.
*pseudonym Lydia is 64 years old Serena is 50 years old
“Getting approved for funding isn’t a feasible option”
Mina* is a homeless single mother, living in a temporary hostel accommodation. She has a work visa and has access to limited benefits.
Mina is passionate about working with young people, and to keep them off the streets and out of trouble, she set up a not-for-profit organisation to support them in finding flexible-paid jobs. However, she felt that funders were not keen to fund the BME community or any not-for-profit companies. Without funding Mina is unable to expand her business; as demand grows, so do the costs. Mina would like to expand her venture by implementing branding and uniforms to add legitimacy to her enterprise and increase appeal among the youth.
Aside from funding, Mina feels that the Council should actively engage with residents and provide them with the necessary skills for employment and entrepreneurship. This can be done by offering paid internships and mentoring opportunities from individuals with lived experience. The eligibility criteria should also be made more flexible and transparent. Many residents are turned away from opportunities because they do not meet the criteria, which can damage their confidence and limit their access to entrepreneurial opportunities.
*pseudonym Age 26
Challenges and aspirations of Afghan refugees living in Camden
I was very fortunate to be able to engage with the Afghan refugee community and understand their perspectives on accessing economic opportunities. It was inspiring to hear about the skills that they have developed out of passion and hobbies. Many of the women I spoke to are skilled in baking, sewing, embroidery, and henna artistry, all of which are deeply rooted in their culture and heritage. When asked about pursuing their hobbies as entrepreneurial opportunities, they were wary of the associated costs. Setting up a business has its own mandatory costs - rent, materials, and branding on top of the additional costs needed to pay for childcare or for training and learning opportunities, which are not covered by a business loan.
The community is not keen on applying for financial investment, and their access to funding is limited to Shariah-compliant loans. However, the women I spoke to expressed a preference for training to enter employment, earning money to fund their ventures themselves, and learning new skills.
The women I spoke to were aged between 32 and 37 years.
“Camden is my second home”
Lydia Camden Resident
Hand stitched tapestries created by Afghan refugee women
Reflections
Many of the families are single females with children, and they are extremely resourceful but face a lot of barriers. Childcare is a major barrier to accessing training and employment – childcare funding is not available to all and is usually expensive. Anything linking to training and employment has a direct effect on the benefits they receive and there is usually a lot of paperwork involved which makes it very complicated, lengthy, and challenging.
Being temporarily housed brings a lot of uncertainty and instability for families. They need to be located in familiar and local areas that enable them to connect to their culture.
The refugee community has experienced a lot of trauma through their separation – this needs to be addressed separately, through coaching and community integration.
Opportunities for entrepreneurialism would benefit these families as they are knowledgeable and skilled.
- Family Activity Programme Lead at The Winch
“The primary goal is to provide coping mechanisms to support families. This in turn should enable residents to access essential services and economic opportunities.”
Project Officer
- Refugee Communities
Camden Council
“A community wealth fund needs to be transparent from the start. There needs to be clear criteria and an easy application process requiring minimal information. The fund should have a holistic approach and support residents throughout the process by offering reduced rents and access to unused spaces and by linking up with local partners. To promote incentives to setting up enterprise the Council should also commit to prioritise offering Council contracts to social enterprises.”
CEO - Social Enterprise
“A Community Wealth Fund can enable refugees to be more financially independent if they also receive the right support to develop entrepreneurial skills. However, stability needs to be prioritised as well as access to key services.”
Project Officer
- Refugee Communities
Camden Council
Based on my research, it is evident that many residents in this community have previous entrepreneurial experience however, due to various reasons, they were unable to continue pursuing their business goals.
This suggests that this community is often overlooked as potential entrepreneurs because of their unstable circumstances and pressing priorities such as housing, the cost of living crisis, and the welfare of their children, which take priority over everything else.
To effectively prepare residents to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities, the Council must prioritize equipping them with a diverse range of skills such as financial management, marketing, networking, and innovation. Proficiency in these areas is crucial to ensure that aspiring entrepreneurs are well-prepared to navigate the challenges and requirements of starting and running a successful business.
The Council can also empower residents by creating a safe space for them to share their collective ideas and access tailored support to access entrepreneurial insights and opportunities.
Enabling access to a Community Wealth Fund can strengthen the social fabric of the borough, by bringing different threads of the community together to promote inclusivity and credibility, thereby creating opportunities for communities to thrive.
To harness entrepreneurial opportunities the Council must invest in people and voices to diversify the socio-economic landscape, through creative storytelling and collective ownership.
We often hear the saying “Home is where the heart is,” but through my research, I have found that for displaced communities, home is where they feel connected to their heritage and culture. It can be difficult for displaced communities to maintain their heritage and culture as they adapt to a new way of life.
However, by staying connected with their community, speaking their native language, cooking traditional recipes, and celebrating their love for traditional music, arts, and clothing, they can strengthen their cultural ties.
In this artwork, I have chosen to depict symbols of heritage that are important to the diverse cultures and ethnicities found in Camden.
I also hope that this will serve as a visual representation to support entrepreneurial initiatives that can preserve and celebrate the heritage of these diverse communities.
“We are all migrants through time.”
Mohsin Hamid “Camden brings together migrant communities”
Mary - Camden Resident
“To me, a home is where you feel loved, safe, and cherished.”
Malala Yousafzai
“Refugees will always be welcome here [Camden] and we will stand together and show they are part of our community.”
Georgia Gould “Connecting small and medium-sized businesses to international markets can create work for host country nationals alongside refugees; building economic growth and resilience in host communities.”
Ukrainian Community Hub O2 Centre 255 Finchley Road London NW3 6LU Borough of Sanctuary www.camden.gov.uk/borough-of-sanctuary
Camden Council Refugee Communities camden.gov.uk/asylum-seekers-and-refugees
CAMDEN COUNCIL CITIZEN
SCIENTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE 2023-2024
Following many successful collaborations, including the Good Life Euston and Euston Young Voices projects, Camden Council have teamed up with the Institute for Global prosperity at University College London to deliver an innovative ‘Citizen Science-in-Residence’ programme for the year 2023-2024. This zine is one of the outputs from this programme.
Seven local residents were employed by Camden Council to conduct research informed by their own lived experience for the benefit of developing new council policy ideas and initiatives. As part of their residency at the council, the cohort completed a bespoke 12-month training programme with the UCL Citizen Science Academy.
Five of the citizen scientists-in-residence were connected with the development of the council’s new Community Wealth Fund Initiative and the remaining two conducted research to help inform the Tenant Engagement Programme. Through practical training and supported fieldwork using qualitative research methods, the work done by the citizen scientists-in-residence is part of a wider goal to promote citizen-led policy making and connect residents with local government.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Alex Evans, Samantha McNeil and Agnes Muswere from Camden Council Refugee Communities for offering their time and guidance. Also to Signe Williams for teaching me how to complete data analysis of my research and for mentoring me throughout this project.
A big thank you to Vicky Fox from Doorstep Homeless Families Project, Neena Kumari from Hopscotch Women’s Group, Page Victor from The Winch, and Svitlana Barabash from the Ukrainian Community Hub for providing a safe space for me to observe and engage with community members. Your support helped make participants feel at ease while participating in this research.
I am truly grateful for the invaluable support and guidance from Joseph Cook at UCL and the Participation Team at Camden Council, without which I would not have been able to complete this project.
The UCL Citizen Science Academy would also like to thank all those at Camden Council that provided support for this project, including those in the Participation and Community Wealth Fund teams. Additionally, we are grateful for the input from a variety of local organisations who have hosted us throughout the year, including Luminary Bakery, Google, Training Link and Somers Town Community Association.
