Member

Allowing asylum seekers the chance to work, as we have heard, is good for their mental health and well-being. When their mental health and well-being are undermined, they do not disappear; they turn up in public services and, importantly, they need the support of our voluntary and community sector. I was talking to members of Bristol’s voluntary and community sector about that this week and they wanted me to stress this point. That is the same voluntary and community sector which has demands placed on it by all communities across Bristol and which faces increasing stretch when unnecessary need is pushed on to it.