Network Building

MRN was established to support migrant and refugee community organisations working across the diverse regions of the UK. These organisations tend to be characterised by a lack of resources, reliance on volunteers, isolation and high levels of demand. MRN was established to help such organisations rise above daily pressures to start developing ways to have their voice heard by those who set immigration policy.

During the first 2 years of its existence the MRN has established a network consisting of just under 1600 organisations, mainly in the UK but including contacts with groups and networks working in migrants' rights issues in other countries. We have established a 'regional roundtable' structure, which enables MRN's involvement in the work of organisations in Scotland and Wales and the English regions of the North West, West Midlands, East Midlands, and London on a regular basis. Three hundred of our contacts are in London.

The MRN seeks to service its member organisations in 4 key ways

• Documenting their existence, experience and activities and working with them to ensure that their needs of their service users are met.
• Creating a common platform of action that is regionally based and locally tailored, making it easier for joint work and campaigns to occur.
• Providing capacity for the analysis and development of policy.
• Making government and those in the public sphere more aware of migrant community groups so that they can be involved in debates about migration.