The transition from asylum seeker, with very few choices about how and where you live, to refugee, with a raft of new rights and responsibilities, is often not an easy one.
We help people with everything from setting up a bank account, applying for travel documents, and looking for work to finding somewhere to live and a school for their children.
Supporting new refugees
We launched an online guide for new refugees, which was used by more than 9,700 people. This digital resource is packed with information and advice to help people understand their rights and plan their next steps after getting refugee status in Scotland.
Last year, our advisors also carried out more than 990 move-on appointments with newly granted refugees and held 258 surgeries where people can access further information and support on immigration, housing, and benefits.
Sara and her daughter Maraim were granted refugee protection in the UK after fleeing brutal civil war in Syria. She said:
“I feel like I’m in safe hands with Scottish Refugee Council. Our caseworker is beside us every step of the way. Scotland is home for us now. We feel safe and supported here. I feel very positive about the future.” - Sara (names have been changed)
Helping people look for work
More than 400 people attended our Refugee Job Fair, run in partnership with six other organisations. The event enabled refugees and people seeking asylum to learn about volunteering, training, apprenticeship and employment opportunities and meet with 41 employers and organisations offering support.
85 people attended our employer training workshops which raise awareness of the barriers New Scots face when looking for work and focus on ways to make recruitment fairer and more accessible for candidates from refugee backgrounds.
We also worked with a range of employers to deliver information sessions and training courses helping 109 refugees learn new skills, improve their CVs and boost their employment chances. As a direct result, 14 people went on to secure paid work.
Annie struggled to find paid work after getting refugee status in Scotland. She joined our employability training programme, which led to a paid work placement, then the offer of a permanent job as a barista.
“After failing several times with job applications, I felt my self-esteem go so low. Scottish Refugee Council supported me with my CV. They helped me get work experience and I have my job now with Starbucks. I have become more confident and feel better about looking for work in the future.” - Annie (name has been changed)
Providing volunteering opportunities
Volunteering can be a lifeline for people trapped in the asylum system who are prevented from finding paid work. Becoming a volunteer not only helps reduce boredom and isolation, it enables people to make connections, build confidence and play a positive role in their new communities.
337 people came to our monthly Volunteering Information Afternoons for refugees and people seeking asylum, where they met with 31 organisations offering volunteering opportunities. These sessions give New Scots the chance to learn more about the benefits of volunteering and meet with organisations looking for volunteers.
“We have a few people regularly volunteering with us who we met at the Volunteer Information Afternoon. They are all enjoying volunteering and bring a lot to our organisation.” – Lambhill Stables
Empowering New Scots leaders
In May 2024, 11 people graduated from our New Scots Leadership Programme, run in partnership with Social Enterprise Academy. The six-month course brings leaders from refugee backgrounds together to support and learn from each other so they can build strong communities with other refugees in Scotland.
After graduating from the programme, community activist, Fatou, was awarded a James McCune Smith Scholarship to do a BA in Community Development at Glasgow University.
“The New Scots Leadership Programme definitely helped me get my place at university. The course is life-changing because it takes you to another level of where you were and gives more opportunities for jobs and learning. I can’t explain how helpful it’s been for me, both in my work and with my studies.” – Fatou
In September, we welcomed 16 new learners to the Leadership Programme.
Platforming artists and activists from migrant backgrounds
Our three-year Cross Borders arts and cultural activism programme for creatives from refugee and other migrant backgrounds concluded in October 2024.
In countries where voicing opinions can place you in danger, artists, activists and writers are often at an especially high risk of censorship, imprisonment and persecution. Here in the UK, structural inequalities and systemic barriers make it extremely difficult for people with experience of forced displacement to break into creative industries.
Since 2001, Cross Borders has supported more than 100 artists, activists, community organisers, creatives, journalists and writers through mentoring, training, collaborations and commissions.
We also published Where We Meet, a good practice resource designed to help arts organisations better understand and support artists with lived experience of displacement. Where We Meet also aims to equip artists from refugee and other migrant backgrounds with tools and strategies to help them overcome barriers and build sustainable careers.
