This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for community integration
10/02/2003
Glasgow communities supporting asylum seekers and refugees received a boost today as a £750,000 funding package for integration work was announced.
Most of the funding will be allocated to Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) which are already providing services such as child care, sports and arts activities for children, drop in centres, food co-ops and classes in English and computing.
£600,000 will be routed through the Glasgow Alliance to the SIPs and £150,000 will go directly to Glasgow City Council for further integration work across the city.
Speaking at Kingsway Court Health and Wellbeing Centre where the Glasgow Smaller Areas SIP provides English language classes, Minister for Social Justice Margaret Curran said:
"This is a continuation of last year's funding package of £700,000 that delivered over 30 projects across Glasgow. These projects not only provide practical support that benefits the whole community. They also help to promote a greater understanding of different cultures and religions.
"Already these projects are making a difference. In this centre, English classes have been helping asylum seekers to settle in to life in Glasgow while the young people's basketball team and the women's group has brought people together from all walks of life.
"The Executive is committed to fostering inclusive communities and to celebrating the positive aspects of Scotland's multi-cultural society. Today's announcement complements the Executive's wider policy of promoting One Scotland, Many Cultures. And the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum - launched last year - will be shortly be publishing its recommendations and guidelines".
Councillor Archie Graham of Glasgow City Council said:
"The City Council very much welcomes this opportunity to work with Scottish Executive and the Glasgow Alliance to ensure that our new Glaswegians can reach their full potential and help with the regeneration of the city.""
Sally Daghlian, Chief Executive of the Scottish Refugee Council said:
"This is a welcome announcement. Helping to build understanding between refugees and local residents is of vital importance and will enable them to work together to improve their communities for everyone.
"The latest figures from Glasgow City Council show that in Scotland over 80 percent of asylum seekers whose cases have been decided have been given the right to remain here as refugees. It is essential that we help these refugees establish themselves in Scotland and provide them with assistance so that they can play an active part in their new communities."
Projects established from last year's funding include:
Understanding One Another's Culture, Drumchapel SIP. There are around 60 asylum seeker children in Drumchapel High School. This project encourages pupils to make friends and learn about each other's culture through activities such as arts, sport and joint outings.
Sighthill Strategy Group Junior Activities, North Glasgow SIP. This SIP provides a disco and dance, drama and sports activities for around 200 local children.
The North Glasgow Food Co-op, North Glasgow SIP. This project provides advice about nutrition and low cost, good quality food to the local community.
This funding package comes from the Communities Scotland Regeneration Programme for 2003/04. Further grants will be available to support community integration in other parts of Scotland if the need arises.
Margaret Curran launched the package at 2pm in the Kingsway Court Health and Wellbeing Centre, Scotstoun, Glasgow.
The Glasgow Alliance is a partnership that brings together key agencies from the public, private and voluntary sectors to work on the regeneration of Glasgow. It is responsible for Glasgow's area based SIPs and for administering their funding.
The Glasgow Smaller Areas SIP is one of ten area-based SIPs in Glasgow. It comprises the areas of Toryglen, Penilee and the Dumbarton Road Corridor and works with local people to regenerate their communities and helps people to tackle issues such as drug and alcohol misuse, poverty and crime.
The Scottish Refugee Integration Forum was established in January 2002, with an expected lifespan of 18 months. Its remit is to develop action plans to enable the successful integration of refugees in Scotland and the provision of more accessible, co-ordinated and good quality services.