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Migrant Integration through Locally designed Experiences (MILE) project

Combined logo for EU and the MILE project

About the MILE project

MILE stands for Migrant Integration through Locally designed Experience. It is about empowering the local community, including migrant communities.

MILE is two-year project co-funded through the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and involves partners in six European countries:

  • Belgium
  • Greece
  • Latvia
  • Netherlands
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom (UK)

MILE is based on the idea that policy making, especially at the local level, should be a co-creation process that reflects the diverse population of cities and gives a say to:

  • migrants
  • newcomers
  • refugees, and
  • asylum-seekers

By involving councils, migrant groups, and research teams across Europe, MILE aims to empower migrants and refugees and help to build lasting connections between migrant groups and local governments in Europe.

For this, MILE is producing research-based and locally tailored responses to address the current needs and priorities of councils and local migrant communities. The participation tools developed and co-created by partnering research teams, councils, and migrant-led organisations aim to serve as a springboard for deeper social, economic, and political inclusion.

Find out more about MILE

View 'MILE in a Nutshell infographic'

What we have done in Birmingham

The Birmingham City Council (BCC) Refugees and Migration team is partnering with ACH and Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) from Aston University in the MILE project.

A major objective for BCC is to create a fundamental tool in the MILE project approach, which is to establish a consultative group made up of people from migrant backgrounds.

This group will meet with lead decision makers in the council to influence decisions and policies.

To this aim we have carried out the following activities so far:

  • liaised with CREME to support research and policy papers

Read inclusion of migrants in policy making – a report on Birmingham January 2023

Read the MILE policy briefs

  • held an initial focus group made up of people from migrant backgrounds
  • ran recruitment drives to attract participants for the migrant consultative group
  • ran tours of the Birmingham Council House
  • established terms of reference (TOR) for the consultative group
  • organised international MILE training for BCC staff
  • held consultations between the MILE consultative group and decision-making leads in the Refugees and Migration team
  • co-created the vison statement for the new City of Sanctuary Policy

How you can get involved

If you are interested in volunteering to be part of the MILE consultative group, email: dawn.x.murray@birmingham.gov.uk


Page last updated: 15 August 2023

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