Support and advice services
We have a team of caseworkers who give advice from offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow. They support refugees and asylum seekers through the complexities of the UK asylum system and give advice on the wide range of things that people need to know when they first arrive in Scotland, such as where to get clothing, food, access to housing and medical care. We also have staff trained in specalist areas (see below). On average our caseworkers conduct 20,000 client contacts a year.
We are a charity, not a government organisation, and may not be able to change decisions made by local authorities or by UKBA. We do not own any accommodation, but will advise on accommodation options before and after a decision on an asylum claim has been received.
Click to learn more about our advice services for asylum seekers and refugees
Scottish Induction Service (SIS)
Our Scottish Induction Service assists newly-arrived asylum seekers in temporary accommodation and ensures they have access to asylum support, legal and medical care. We provide on-site information briefings to help those seeking asylum understand the asylum process. Practical information is also provided about life in the UK, including areas like social care and essential living needs.
Refugee Integration and Employment Service (RIES)
Our Refugee Integration and Employment Service (RIES) works with people who have been granted Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection on or after October 1, 2008.
Services offered by RIES include:
- finding new accommodation;
- looking for a job;
- finding out about training and educational opportunities;
- healthcare and much more.
Housing and welfare
Specialist Housing and Welfare staff provide advice on housing options and welfare benefits to ensure that people can make informed choices before the transition from asylum support to mainstream support.
Working in partnership with local authorities and housing providers, these staff ensure that refugees understand the legal aspects of tenancy and tenant’s rights and responsibilities. We conduct approximately 1500 Housing and Welfare client contacts a year.
Although Glasgow-based we conduct regular Housing and Welfare advice sessions in Edinburgh.
Education and employment
We are no longer able to provide education and employment advice.
Click for advice and guidance on education, training and employment options.
Financial Literacy Project
Our new Financial Literacy Project helps refugees develop useful financial skills, understand options and identifies how to avoid possible risks. Workshops are free and cover topics like budgeting and borrowing money, insurance and more specialised areas like starting a business.
Click to find out more or register for a workshop
Training
Our commitment to support individuals and organisations who work with and advise refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland continues through the wide range of training courses we offer.
Click to find out more about our latest courses
Family Reunion
Often when people are forced to flee their country they become separated from their children, husbands or wives.
We no longer provide a family reunion service, however your legal representative may be able to help you. If you do not have one or would like to change your represenative, we can provide names and addresses of legal representatives.
Our multilingual family reunion leaflets will help you gather important information and evidence before you approach a legal adviser or solicitor to discuss family reunion.
Family reunion leaflets in English
Click to read our leaflet for refugees or people granted humanitarian protection (154.7Kb, PDF)
Click to read our leaflet for non-refugees with indefinite leave to remain (124.6 Kb, PDF)
Family reunion leaflets in Arabic
Click to read our leaflet for refugees or people granted humanitarian protection (179.3Kb, PDF)
Click to read our leaflet for non-refugees with indefinite leave to remain (183.4Kb, PDF)
Family reunion leaflets in French
Click to read our leaflet for refugees or people granted humanitarian protection (75.4Kb, PDF)
Click to read our leaflet for non-refugees with indefinite leave to remain (77.6Kb, PDF)
Family reunion leaflets in Somali
Click to read our leaflet for refugees or people granted humanitarian protection (82.3Kb, PDF)
Click to read our leaflet for non-refugees with indefinite leave to remain (84.5Kb, PDF)
Family reunion leaflets in Farsi
Click to read our leaflet for refugees or people granted humanitarian protection (226Kb, PDF)
Family reunion leaflets in Swahili
Click to read our leaflet for refugees or people granted humanitarian protection (72.5Kb, PDF)
Family reunion leaflets in Tigrinya
Click to read our leaflet for refugees or people granted humanitarian protection (91Kb, PDF)
Important contact information
Refugees and those seeking asylum can call Scottish Refugee Council’s free advice line on 0800 085 6087. This line is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9:30 to 16:00 (It closes for lunch between 13:00 and 14:00) and Wednesday from 13:00 to 16:00.
NB: Agencies seeking advice should call the main office number 0141 248 9799.
We cannot guarantee that all information on our website has been translated. If you cannot find advice in the language you are looking for, call us to make an appointment and we will try to organise an interpreter.