This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for refugee and asylum communities
12/01/2004
Glasgow communities, supporting refugees and asylum
seekers, received a funding boost today.
More than £1 million funding will be allocated to over
30 existing and new projects to help refugees and asylum
seekers integrate into Scottish life.
Projects supported provide a range of services including
childcare, social activities such as drama groups and
sports clubs, training and volunteering opportunities,
language classes, food co-ops and advice and guidance on
housing, health and benefits.
A total of £650,000 will be routed through the Glasgow
Alliance to Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs), £317,000
will go directly to Glasgow City Council for non-SIP areas
and around £200,000 will go to 13 new projects that will
continue implementing the action plan of the Scottish
Refugee Integration Forum (SRIF).
Unveiling the package at the Red Road Women's Centre in
Springburn, Communities Minister Margaret Curran said:
"Today's allocation is a clear measure of the
Executive's commitment to providing practical support for
refugees and asylum seekers and for the communities in
which they live. This money will ensure continued and new
work that fosters integration and a greater understanding
of different cultures and religions.
"Existing projects are already making a huge difference
to people's lives and I am pleased that this work can
expand. The Red Road Women's Centre which currently helps
over 500 asylum seekers and refugees, is one example of
good practice. Many of the women here have attended
English classes and as a result moved on to further
education. An increasing number of women are taking on
voluntary work at the project which in turn is helping to
increase their language skills and confidence and nearly
500 children a month use the crèche facilities.
"It's vital that people seeking asylum and refugees can
access good quality, co-ordinated services that help them
to play an active role in their new communities and today's
announcement forms part of our partnership agreement
commitment to encourage the integration of refugees."
Councillor Irene Graham, from Glasgow City Council added
her support to the announcement, saying:
"This year the City Council has used resources provided
by Communities Scotland to support a wide range of
initiatives, including the funding of community based drop
in centres and the provision of English classes and
childcare. At a city-wide level, the resources have funded
the development of a training strategy, an employment
project and projects supporting vulnerable children from
asylum seeking families. We welcome the additional
resources made available to the City Council for the next
financial year. They will be invaluable in supporting
Glasgow's dispersal programme."
The Chair of Glasgow Alliance, Councillor James Coleman
said:
"Glasgow Alliance welcomes the continuation of this
funding. Working to integrate asylum seekers and refugees
into local communities, and providing a range of support
services for them, is part of our commitment to make
Glasgow a more inclusive city. The continued funding will
allow this work to progress and develop, helping asylum
seekers to play an active part in their new
communities."
Guidance for local authorities to help them ensure that
refugees have access to information such as housing
options, health services and welfare benefits was also
launched by Communities Scotland and the Executive today.
This is intended to be used by local authorities as a
checklist when welcoming and accommodating those who have
achieved refugee status.
Funding allocation:
Scottish Refugee Integration Forum Action Plan (SRIF):
around £200,000
Today's allocation is the second made in 2003/04 to
new projects that will deliver the recommendations of the
SRIF Action Plan. In August 2003, £230,000 was allocated
to 12 projects - which are in the process of establishing
themselves. This funding was announced in the Executive's
Spending Review 2003 - 2006.
Projects to receive SRIF funding include the Cranhill
Community project which provides opportunities for local
youths and young asylum seekers to meet socially. Using
football, hill walking and a healthy eating kitchen this
project enables youngsters to learn about each others'
cultures and lifestyles.
For a full list of projects receiving SRIF funding,
please contact the Press Office (contact details
below).
The funding for SIPs and for Glasgow City Council comes
from Communities Scotland's Regenerating Our Communities
Budget 2004/05. This is broken down as follows.
Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs): £650,000
Today's allocation of £650,000 to SIPs will be used
to fund 30 projects. £350,000 is allocated to the Glasgow
North SIP and £300,000 goes to other SIPs across Glasgow.
Projects to receive SIP funding include Rosemount Respite
Childcare which cares for refugee and asylum seeker
children in an integrated nursery setting. This is enables
mothers to attend English classes and move on to further
education.
Glasgow City Council; £317,000
Non-SIP areas accommodating refugees and asylum
seekers will receive £217,000 and £100,000 will be used by
the Council for city wide-integration. This involves work
with voluntary agencies such as the Scottish Refugee
Council and Barnardo's Scotland to help refugees into work
and to support families.
Edinburgh City Council: £43,000
In addition, Edinburgh City Council is allocated
£43,000 from the Communities Scotland Regenerating
Communities Budget.
This funding is for the establishment of a Refugee
Resource Centre run by the Edinburgh Cyrenians. The
Cyrenians is leading a consortium of agencies working with
people who need help and support as a consequence of being
asylum seekers or refugees. The Resource Centre is based at
St George's West, Shandwick Place, providing a safe,
welcoming environment for people who are at risk due to the
circumstance of being an asylum seeker or refugee and
offering help - through the effective networking of a range
of agencies - to deal with whatever problems people are
experiencing and opportunities to progress as contributing
members of our community.
The Scottish Refugee Integration Forum was established
in January 2002. It developed an Action Plan to enable the
successful integration of refugees in Scotland and the SRIF
funding announced today is helping to deliver this
plan.