This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Support for refugees and asylum seekers
05/04/2005
Projects that help refugees and asylum seekers access advice, learn new skills and find work received funding today.
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said that around £500,000 going to 15 different organisations will help refugees and asylum seekers integrate into Scotland.
Some of the 15 organisations include:
- British Red Cross will get £43,304 for three projects - a newspaper for refugees, access to social care services and to support to refugee women
- North Glasgow College will receive £31,535 to help a further 100 asylum seekers and refugees to access learning
- St Rollox Church will get £30,000 for childcare to allow asylum seekers and local residents to attend English and computer classes, befriending services and surgeries for health visitors
On a visit to a successful project for refugees run by the British Red Cross in Glasgow, Malcolm Chisholm said:
"We must ensure that Scotland is a welcoming place for people from all cultures and that refugees have the opportunity to contribute to communities in Scotland. Refugees have a great deal to offer and it's in all our interests to make sure they are able to use their skills and talents productively.
"Some of these projects help to update people's skills and get ready for work, but integration is also about everyday activities and many of these projects help refugees and asylum seekers by recognising the different needs and challenges that people have when they come here.
"I am sure that these projects will continue to make an important difference to the lives of refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland."
Today's announcement coincides with the publication of the second progress report on the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum's Action Plan, published in 2003. The report says that progress towards refugee integration is steady but by not yet complete. For example, in the area of access to employment for refugees, the Bridges and New Glaswegians projects have been great successes, while the recognition of qualifications obtained by refugees in their home countries is an area in which progress might yet be made.
The 15 projects receiving funding during April 2005-March 2006 are:
Bridges Project - £46,838
The Bridges Project is a work experience scheme in the West of Scotland which prepares both asylum seekers and refugees for the workplace and provides first hand experience of their profession or trade in Scotland.
British Red Cross - £43,304
To fund three projects:
- Orientation service to ensure asylum seekers and refugees have fair and equal access to social care services
- Women in Crisis Scheme, recruitment of a project co-ordinator who can lead the development of gender specific support for vulnerable refugee and asylum seeking women
- Refugee Integration Newspaper, providing regularly updated information and advice for new arrivals and refugees
Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau - £2,500
Drumchapel CAB will offer an outreach service to areas with a high population of refugees, and the funds will help pay for a translation service.
Easterhouse Citizens Advice Bureau - £32,100
To deliver a service from the Cranhill Community Project encouraging refugees to stay in the area and providing them with advice.
Kingsway Court Health and Wellbeing Centre - £3,000
To recruit train and support community health volunteers from the local refugee and asylum seeking population, providing an opportunity to learn new skills.
The Initiative: Gorbals, Govanhill and Toryglen - £86, 675
To extend the Gorbals Initiative Peer Advocacy for a skills exchange project for refugees and asylum seekers across Glasgow. In 2005 the project will also seek to help their refugee volunteers access employment.
Legal Services Agency - £24,320
Refugee Legal Project and Women's Unit will employ a full time worker with language abilities.
Linkes - £10,000
This community organisation seeks funding to provide a programme of educational, sporting, social and cultural events whilst creating volunteering opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.
Positive Action in Housing -£32,735
The Frontline Housing Advisory Service project enables refugees and asylum seekers in Glasgow and elsewhere to access services through a housing information and advice service. The funding will meet the costs of a bilingual housing worker and the running costs of the
North Glasgow College -£31,535
To support an integration officer to help a further 100 asylum seekers and refugees learn at North Glasgow College.
Save the Children with Glasgow Centre for the Child and Society - £10,000
In 2004-05 the Executive contributed funding to the development of a website with legal information on asylum law for the legal profession and accessible information for asylum seeker children and their parents. The funding will ensure the website is kept up to date.
Scottish Refugee Council - £40,000
The Scottish Refugee Council is develop a skills database to capture the abilities of the refugee workforce, and aims to work with 700 clients this year, help 50 directly into employment and make another 150 ready for work.
Stevenson College - £54,191
The College will provide two intensive 10 week programmes of learning to asylum seekers and refugees to help move on to higher level of employment or study. This project will fill a gap in provision of this kind of service in the Edinburgh area.
St Rollox Church - £30,000
To buy childcare provisions to allow asylum seekers and local residents to access activities such as English conversational classes, computer classes, befriending services, surgeries for Health Visitors and drop in cafes.
WISE Group -£50,000
To fund a project which will provide asylum seekers and refugees in Glasgow with work placements, and a tailored education programme to improve their employment prospects.
TOTAL - £497,198