United Refugee Organization

THE CLANNEBOR PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Clannebor Project (“Clann” is Gaelic for family; “Ebor” is Latin for York), is a pilot project currently being run by the Border and Immigration Agency based at Leeds Waterside.
The project has been designed to encourage families who are appeal rights exhausted (ARE), and who have no basis to remain in the UK, to depart voluntarily. It actively promotes IOM and voluntary departure at every point in the process.
A number of families have been selected for the pilot, and it includes a wide cross-section of nationalities.
THE PROCESS
As part of the pilot, families are asked to complete a questionnaire to ensure that the information we have on our records is up to date. This is followed by a Case Conference, where the entire family is required to attend Waterside Court. Representatives, social workers or family friends are also welcome.
The purpose of the Case Conference is to give the family the opportunity to update the project caseowner with any changes in their situation, and for their options for return to be discussed.
The options available to removable families are to engage with IOM and depart voluntarily; or to make their own arrangements to leave the UK (the local Enforcement office can assist with documentation and ticketing). As a direct result of this project, IOM has arranged a drop-in centre twice a month in Leeds City Centre, and families are provided details of how to access this.
Families are reminded that failure to take up one of these options will otherwise lead to enforced removal which may involve a period of detention.
The family are given the opportunity to think about their options and to begin to get their affairs in order. A second meeting is arranged for 30 days later. In the meantime, the Head of Household is required to report to Waterside Court weekly in order to update the Border & Immigration Agency as to their intentions and progress.
Support for the family will not be withdrawn at any stage unless the family abscond; and any new representations that may be made during the process will be resolved expeditiously.
SUMMARY
The Clannebor Project actively promotes voluntary return at every juncture in the process as an alternative to an enforced removal. It allows the family to have a choice in how they leave the UK and it gives them time to get their affairs in order and to plan for their future back home.