This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for refugee integration projects
28/08/2003
Projects that help to integrate refugees received a
further boost today with the announcement of allocations
amounting to £230,000.
Some of the projects that received funding include:
- The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce job brokerage
project which assists refugees into work, offering
customised support and helping break down barriers in
the labour market: £69,500.
- The Community Response Co-ordinating Group which
will receive funding to provide translation and
interpretation services: £36,000.
- The Gorbals Initiative pilot which is a community
resource that trains refugees in a range of advocacy
skills: £43,138.
Communities Minister Margaret Curran said:
"The Scottish Executive and the Scottish Refugee
Integration Forum have recognised and addressed the many
challenges refugees face when they arrive in the UK.
"We must make sure that Scotland is a welcoming place
for people from all cultures, nationalities and
backgrounds. It is essential that work continues so that
refugees have the skills to successfully integrate into our
communities.
"There is, of course, more to be done, but I am sure
that the good work started by the Scottish Refugee
Integration Forum will continue to make a real difference
to the lives of refugees."
Today's announcement coincides with the publication of
the first progress report following publication of the
Scottish Refugee Integration Forum's Action Plan in
February 2003. This report provides information about the
progress made so far - by statutory and voluntary
organisations - in delivering a range of actions that aim
to help refugees integrate into Scottish life.
The progress report finds that work has begun - or is
about to begin - in
many areas, which include the following.
- The Scottish Executive has provided funding to
Positive Action in Housing to employ a caseworker to
help with access to advice support and advocacy.
- The Scottish Asylum Seeker Consortium Media
Sub-group has been established to take forward positive
images work.
- Asylum seekers can now be accepted as students on
part time Higher National courses.
- A study into the provision of translation,
interpreting and communication support will shortly be
carried out.
The Scottish Refugee Integration Forum was established
in January 2002 by the Scottish Executive to allow
Scotland's statutory and voluntary agencies to work in
partnership to support refugees more effectively. After
nine months of taking evidence from stakeholders, a draft
Action Plan was issued for consultation in October 2002.
The final report was published in February 2003 at which
time the Forum was stood down.
Funding for the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum
Action Plan was announced by Margaret Curran in February
2003. This is the first round of allocations from the
budget of the Scottish Executive Equality Unit to specific
projects. Further allocations will follow in due
course.
The other projects to benefit from the £230,000
allocation of funding are:
- The University of Glasgow is to develop a web-based
resource addressing social welfare and educational
issues for refugees: £38,400 over two years.
- Anniesland College is to develop a programme to
familiarise refugees with the Scottish workplace and
transition into employment: £12,114.
- Castlemilk Churches Together Refugee Centre for the
development of a youth group to allow refugees to mix
with local young people: £3,000.
- Drumchapel Citizens Advice Bureau for access to
interpretation services:£2,205.
- Ethnic Minorities Law Centre - Part V Project to
provide education and training on asylum related issues
and develop links to other organisations:£8,000.
- Kingsway Court Health & Wellbeing Centre will
establish two under-13 football teams of local refugees
and asylum seekers: £1,300.
- Legal Services Agency Ltd is to employ a trainee
solicitor for asylum casework: £20,000.
- Street Level Photoworks for a programme of arts
activities: £8,000.
- Linkes Project for cultural events and community
craft classes: £5,000.