Return - IOM Publications - International Organization for Migration

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UNITED KINGDOM
The three organizations involved in assisted return (IOM, Refugee Action and IND) were
operating a well-run programme, with effective working relations and clear business
processes;
VARP provided significant cost-savings for IND in comparison with the alternative of removing
unsuccessful asylum seekers following completion of the asylum process;
Asylum seekers were provided with a dignified, timely departure by VARP and achieved
return to countries via routes that IND could not access. A high level of user-satisfaction was
reported.
The report also recommended that the programme should be developed to increase the number
of referrals through a wider range of networks, bearing in mind that more structured methods of
service delivery are needed to deal with an expanded service. The failure of VARP to offer
assistance towards sustainable reintegration led to the introduction of a reintegration element
and the creation of VARRP, after negotiations with the Home Office.
Reintegration has since been developed as a strong component of VARRP, and participants may
benefit from job training, education, and where possible employment opportunities and assistance
in establishing small businesses.
Following the establishment of the “Briefing Asylum Seekers” project in January 2003, proposals
are currently underway to broaden the dissemination of information in order to draw the
attention of asylum seekers to the possibility of voluntary return, with the assistance of IOM at
the early stages of the asylum process.
An Induction Centre to brief on Asylum, provide advice on asylum and the possibility of voluntary
assisted return is currently under development, and expected to be ready for use by January
2004.