FOR MANY emigrants the heaviest burden is isolation, the loss of family and friend networks, of community, an alienation that is felt particularly in times of crisis. It’s a reality strongly borne out in a new study of vulnerable communities among the London-Irish that finds, most worryingly, that as many as nine in ten of its 900 respondents among the elderly, the newly arrived, carers, and the second generation Irish, report “poor or moderate levels of social support”. The figure is based on a well-established academic model in which respondents are asked how many people they have to call if something goes seriously wrong, their perception of others’ feelings about them, and whether they see help as being available from neighbours.
The study for the London Irish Centre and the Federation of Irish Societies, “Fresh Perspectives: A Needs Analysis of the Irish Community in London”, is the largest yet undertaken and provides important insights into the state of the community and particularly the need for policymakers and service providers to recognise the rights of the newly arrived and the importance of culturally sensitive services for vulnerable Irish people.
The report also calls for an awareness-raising campaign to reduce the numbers moving to London without appropriate planning.
About 11 per cent of the capital’s population were born in Ireland or regards itself as Irish. The study found nearly a quarter of them aged 65 and over report poor, or very poor, health. Among carers, a quarter report being depressed, one in five suffers anxiety, and half say their own health is poor. Among the newly arrived, the majority are reported as doing well: with 56 per cent in middle-management, administrative or professional roles. But more than one in 10 admit to depression or anxiety, with a substantial proportion citing lack of planning for their migration as a major cause of stress. Rates of high blood pressure within the overall sample highlight the importance of healthy living projects like those helping giving up smoking and increasing exercise.
Four out of five using services offered by Irish community organisations rate the friendliness of staff very highly and there is a strong relationship between their use by respondents and the latter’s awareness of their rights. Since 1984 the Irish government has given financial support to voluntary sector agencies in the UK that provide culturally sensitive services to Irish emigrants. This valuable report underlines the importance of that work and the need to reinforce and refine its focus.