A strengths approach to building futures: UK students and refugees together

This paper focuses on the development of mutually beneficial relationships between refugees and students. A deficit model constructs refugees as a burden on the host community rather than an asset. Services provided to refugee communities often reflect this view and ignore the substantial resources within them. A case study of work between students and refugees which builds on the strengths of refugee communities demonstrated significant gains for both students and refugees. Key theoretical concepts in exploring this approach are those of risk, status and continuity.