Scotland’s new strategy to support refugees and people seeking asylum with settling into their community will be celebrated at the University of Glasgow today (19 August).
The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: Delivery Plan 2024-2026 – which is the most comprehensive of its kind worldwide – seeks to ensure people understand their rights, responsibilities and entitlements, and to help New Scots and communities to integrate.
Developed by the Scottish Government, Scottish Refugee Council and COSLA, the plan includes commitments to work with employers to help them recruit refugees, to identify ways to improve English language provision and to ensure services are co-ordinated effectively.
Scotland’s Minister for Equalities, Kaukab Stewart MSP, will attend the event, together with senior politicians, policy makers and those with lived experience of forced migration.
Musical and creative performances will reflect on the richness of culture that asylum seekers and refugees bring to Scottish society, together with speakers and panel discussions.
The celebration takes place as the University of Glasgow is set to announce its deepening commitment to supporting refugee and asylum seekers as a University of Sanctuary. This will include increasing the number of its Sanctuary Scholarships from 20 to 30 places, from the beginning of the 2025/26 academic year.
The Sanctuary Scholarship Scheme is available to applicants seeking sanctuary in the UK for humanitarian reasons. In addition, this year the University will introduce a scholarship in memory of former student, Dima Alhaj, who was killed in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
UNESCO Chair for Refugee Integration through Education, Languages, Arts at the University of Glasgow and the New Scots Core Group Chair, Professor Alison Phipps, said: “Now more than ever in this divisive and troubling time, it is incredibly important that we come together to show a warm welcome to the people who are seeking asylum in Scotland.
“Refugee rights are human rights, and those seeking safety are trying to escape unimaginable horrors that have destroyed their way of life. I’m proud to have been a part of delivering this refugee integration strategy, which represents deeply researched; evidence-based work with people seeking asylum, and offers an exciting commitment to action across Scotland and to embedding the rights of all who seek refuge.”
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Scotland has a proud history of welcoming those fleeing war and persecution, and we are dedicated to helping them integrate into communities from the day they arrive.
“It is vital that we support refugees and people seeking asylum to understand their rights and access employment and services to help them to rebuild their lives in Scotland.
“This plan, which was informed by engagement with those with experience of seeking refuge and settling in Scotland, as well as those with expertise in supporting them, lays out the steps we will take to support refugees and people seeking asylum to integrate across different parts of society. It also recognises the role communities and employers can actively play in supporting people.”
Rachel Sandison, the University of Glasgow’s Sanctuary Champion and Deputy Vice Chancellor for External Engagement, said: “At the University of Glasgow, we are committed to ensuring that we are an inclusive and welcoming campus where every member of our community feels supported to fulfil their potential.
“As a University of Sanctuary, we recognise the need to work alongside other institutions, cross-sector organisations and national governments to maximise our efforts, coordinate collective activity and advocate for those who have been forcibly displaced from their homes. The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy perfectly supports our ambitions of promoting fairness and equity of opportunity for all, and we are truly honoured to be able to launch this ground-breaking strategy on our Gilmorehill Campus.”
Vicky Tennant, UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) Representative to the UK, said: “For the past 10 years, the ‘New Scots’ plan has exemplified the very best of Scotland and the welcome Scottish society has shown towards refugees. UNHCR has long recognised ‘New Scots’ as a leading example for how to support refugee integration. Particular strengths are its “from day one” approach which is inclusive of asylum seekers and stateless persons, and the meaningful inclusion of refugees and local communities in its design and development.
“Last December, we warmly welcomed the Scottish Government pledging the further development of the strategy at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. Today, UNHCR applauds the launch of the 2024-2026 ‘New Scots’ Strategy and its associated delivery plan. As the work towards implementing the plan begins, UNHCR commends the ongoing efforts of government, civil society and of ‘New Scots’ themselves in bringing this new and ambitious plan forward.”
Chief Executive of Scottish Refugee Council Sabir Zazai said: “Global conflicts and humanitarian crises are forcing record numbers of people to flee their homes in search of safety.
“The commitments set out in this plan will help those seeking protection in Scotland to rebuild their lives here in a meaningful and sustainable way. We welcome the plan and thank everyone whose views and expertise helped shape it.”
COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson Cllr Maureen Chalmers said: “Scotland’s local authorities remain fully committed to welcoming and supporting people who are fleeing war and persecution to find safety and integrate in their new communities.
“The New Scots Delivery Plan sets out actions which local authorities will be working towards to help to improve New Scots’ experiences of living in our communities and accessing local services and, importantly, seeks to ensure that they are able to access their rights. Working in partnership with New Scots themselves, and with our partners, including Scottish Government and Scottish Refugee Council, will be key to the successful delivery of this plan.”