06/02/2021
WORKING AND LIVING IN THE UK: CHALLENGES
HOUSING:
In the UK, you have the option to either buy or rent a home. Purchasing a property can be a lengthy process, so you may need to rent ahead of completing your move. A big priority for anybody moving to a new area or country is to secure housing. Language barriers can be a big part of the problem for immigrants but lack of local knowledge or how the housing market works in your new country can also present problems. Research in advance is a big part of solving this problem and the internet allows you to explore the local situation more so than in the past. You will get best support from your employers.
Again, national and local government agencies will usually offer advice – whichever country you choose – and may have specific programs for newcomers. Shelter offer written advice on private renting, deposits, problems with landlords, etc on their website. This allows you to search for housing advice by area, and to get the contact details of Shelter's local offices, which offer free advice and help with all types of housing problems. Shelter also run a free helpline for urgent problems on 0808 800 4444, open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm at weekends.
ACCESS TO SERVICES
The type, range and quality of services available in your new country is likely to be different to that of your native country. Most immigrants admit that knowing what is available in the first place is a huge barrier.
Services which pose the biggest hurdles include health care, legal advice and access to mental health or social services, education for your children. Language can often be an underlying part of this problem once again and, again, research in advance can make it easier to access all kinds of services in your new country. In most countries social service departments should be your first port of call for help with these issues. If language is still an issue in the early days it's likely that interpreters will be available via social services to explain your rights and how and where to start accessing relevant help or services. Best place for advices is your employer.
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is arguably one of the best healthcare systems in the world and is envied around the globe. The service offers free hospital treatment at the point of use. Alternatively, private healthcare is available however, charges do apply. To receive any kind of treatment through the NHS, you must be registered with a doctor or general practitioner (GP).
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES
Access to transportation can be essential in that it will make access to education and employment far easier. Immigrants face particular problems in this respect on two levels.
Firstly, your driver’s licence may not be recognized in your new country, which means there may be costs associated with becoming qualified. Secondly, that language barrier can, again, make understanding or even finding useful local public transit services a hard task.
DRIVING IN THE UK Depending on where you live and work in the UK will determine whether or not you will need to drive. If you live in a city with good transport links, a car may be unnecessary and could prove very costly, especially if you need to pay for parking. However, if you are based outside of a city centre, public transport may not always be available, meaning a car is essential. Cars are available to rent across the country with prices varying depending on the organisation you choose. It is also worth taking advantage of special deals. Here are some of the most popular car rental companies in the UK:
• Hertz.com
• Avis.co.uk
• Enterprise.co.uk
There are three main types of road in the UK: motorways, primary roads and nonprimary roads. Motorways are high-speed roads where vehicles are permitted to drive at 70 miles per hour (mph). Pedestrians and slower modes of transportation are prohibited.
In the UK, driver's licences are issued by DVLA, Typically, an international driving licence is valid for use in the UK for up to one year however, it is advisable to apply for an international driving permit (IDP) if your licence is not printed in English. If you are planning on remaining in the UK indefinitely, you will need to apply for a UK driving licence. You will need to check specific regulations, and information from https://www.gov.uk/driving-test.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
This is not necessarily the first on the list of practical considerations for immigrants and housing, jobs, transport and services are naturally a priority. However, many immigrants report that, on arrival, it's the cultural differences that really make a big impression. This can range from social customs to more significant issues such as attitudes towards gender, religious diversity, ethnicity and sexuality, which can all be vastly different in a new country.
This can raise a host of problems for both immigrants and the people they interact with. It can also lead to a sense of isolation for immigrants and even affect mental health negatively. It's important to accept that values will be different and that this is something that you cannot control. Accepting different values doesn't mean you have to take them on as your own but you may need to learn to respect them in others.
PROBLEM KIDS!
Parents experience two different issues when bringing their children to a new country.
Children are likely to be quickly immersed in a new culture through their schools and may begin to seem “foreign” to their own parents. Firstly, remember it doesn't matter where you come from; teenagers seem like aliens, never mind foreigners. It's important that you find a balance between teaching your children to respect your own cultural standards and values and allowing them to integrate. Ultimately, one reason to migrate is to give your children a better life and in order to achieve this you'll have to accept a level of integration for them.
The second issue with parenting is often dealing with schools, when a language barrier gets in the way, and helping kids with homework again, schools, socials services and community groups should be able to help.
Children can achieve well at school when their family and friends take an interest in their school and schoolwork. Getting involved in your child’s education, even in the simplest way, shows that you care about their school life. Often, the more supported a child feels at home, the more effectively she or he will learn at school.
For more information and support: https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/primary/learning-school/supporting-your-child-at-school/
PREJUDICE AND RACISM:
Prejudice and discrimination are attitudes and resulting actions that cause people to be treated differently. This is a sad feature of the immigrant experience across the world. However, with progressive laws and an increasingly diverse community, UK has a lot to recommend it. Support services include social services, community and peer groups, along with a modern police force that has strong diversity and anti-racism policies, which are all available to help those facing issues of racism. There are local, national groups that work to combat racism and discrimination on the grounds of race is outlawed under the UK laws. The UK has passed many anti-discrimination laws. The Equality Act 2010 aimed to bring together previous Acts and Regulations, including the Equal Pay Act 1970, the S*x Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2006.
It is difficult to police prejudice because it involves opinion, which may not always show itself in ways that are ‘against the law’. When opinion is put into action, however, and people are treated unequally, prejudice becomes discrimination, which is easier to identify. Anti-discrimination laws mean that if someone feels they are being discriminated against, they can defend themselves by taking the offender to court.
For more information and support: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/about-discrimination/equality-advisory-support-service-discrimination-helpline/
ISOLATION:
Missing the support of friends, family and extended social circles is a big factor for most migrants. Those who come from societies where traditional support structures within communities are strong can find that they feel lost, alienated and disorientated when moving to a Western country where individualism is often prized over family.
UK does, in fact, have a diverse population and major cities have communities from many different countries. This makes them ideal places for those settling in the UK where community groups can offer support and advice for those adjusting to life in a very different kind of society.
For more informations and support: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-community-support-for-vulnerable-citizens/list-of-organisations
THE WEATHER:
The weather in England is temperate with mild summers and winters, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the warm Gulf Stream. Rainfall is fairly evenly spread throughout the year, though the west is wetter than the east. The climate is predominately cool and cloudy with regular rainfall, especially in the early and latter stages of the calendar year. Typically, the warmest months are July and August, however, temperatures can rise in May and June. The average summer temperature is around 21°C. Temperatures begin to drop throughout September and October before plummeting in January and February with average daily highs reaching no more than about 7°C. Frost and snow are not uncommon during these months. It is worth noting that temperatures in cities such as London are generally higher than in more rural areas. Weather programmes on main TV channels as well as smartphone apps such as BBC Weather and Met Office are a common means of checking what the weather has in store in any given region.
For most immigrants adapting to the climate will be a necessity wherever they settle – and UK offers plenty of choice! For weather forecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather
GETTING MARRIED IN THE UK:
A well acknowledged problem related to immigrant populations’ is getting married in the UK. The proportion of immigrants whose spouse or partner comes from the same country of origin (either first or second generation) is naturally higher for first-generation immigrants.
All couples may marry if they are both 16 years or over and free to marry, that is, if they are single, widowed or divorced, or if they were in a civil partnership which has been dissolved.
There are few organisations and groups they help to get your couple from your same culture and religions. If you are interested to find your perfect matching from your culture and religion, please send your Biodata [email protected], They have collections of qualified British Citizen specially from Bangladeshi origin. Medikon also run free support line for advise on 07861690196, open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Thursday and weekends.
FINANCE & BANKING:
In order for your employer to pay you, you must open a UK bank account. This is a straightforward process with which your employer should be able to provide assistance. UK bank accounts can be opened online or in-branch and can take up to one week to set up. To open an account, you will require a valid form of identification (ID) (e.g. a passport or driving licence) and a letter from your employer confirming your place of work, date of employment and your current salary. You will also be asked for proof of address (e.g. a utility bill). As you may not be able to provide this, your new employer can supply you with a letter confirming your address, if necessary. We recommend using HSBC as they offer a fairly hassle-free process. Other banks you could try are Lloyds TSB, Santander, Barclays, Halifax and NatWest. Banks and building societies can be found in most high streets and are generally open between 09:00 and 16:30, Monday to Friday; however opening times can vary. Some banks in larger towns and cities may also open on Saturdays.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
New Year’s Day (1 January)
Good Friday (Date varies – March/April)
Easter Monday (Date varies - March/April)
May Day (Date varies – First Monday in May)
Spring Bank Holiday (Date varies – Final Monday in May)
Summer Bank Holiday (Date varies – Final Monday in August)
Christmas Day (25 December)
Boxing Day (26 December)
EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
Ambulance: 999
Fire: 999
Police: 999
Non-urgent police calls: 101
24-Hour Medical Advice: 111
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