This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Cash for asylum seekers support groups
31/01/2003
Four projects that support Scotland's refugee and asylum
seeker communities are set to benefit from £35,000 in
grants from the Executive.
These one-off payments will help groups to purchase
everyday equipment and fund a youth project in Glasgow. The
money will be awarded in the next few weeks.
East Glasgow Youth Theatre will be given £12,000 to work
on a drama/dance pilot production for young asylum seekers
and refugees from city's Sighthill community. This will
help the young people develop their English language skills
and create links with local residents.
Barnardo's Scotland will receive £3,000 to train
volunteers and supply toys and equipment for children in
the Toryglen and Cranhill areas of Glasgow.
The Scottish Refugee Council will receive a total of
£20,000. The majority of this funding will be used to
upgrade computer equipment, with the rest used to purchase
resources for the refugee doctor's project.
Social Justice Minister Margaret Curran said:
"Scotland has a long history of welcoming refugees and
asylum seekers and I am proud of what we have achieved,
particularly in integrating people into Glasgow's
communities.
"Many of those who seek refuge are fleeing torture and
oppression in their homeland. These people can make a
positive contribution to life in Scotland. This funding
will go some way to help improve the lives of people who
deserve our support."
Scottish Refugee Integration Forum (SRIF) was set up in
2001 to bring together statutory and voluntary agencies to
explore how to more effectively support refugees. It is
chaired by Margaret Curran and part of its remit is to
assist refugees to integrate into life in Scotland. The
final report with recommendations from SRIF is due mid
February.
The refugee doctors project works in partnership with
the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) and the
Medical Faculties of the Universities of Glasgow and
Edinburgh to support the retraining of refugee doctors to
fill vacancies in the health service in Scotland.