Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Bringing people together from more than 30 different countries
DEVELOPED 18 months ago, Perth Welfare
Society is making big strides in bringing people together.
The group’s aim is to support the minority communities in the area and to foster good relations between all the nations represented in Perth and Kinross.
People from more than 30 countries now call the area in and around the Fair City their home.
They include refugees from Syria and people from other countries who have left due to oppression.
Others have arrived for a variety of different reasons and settled well, bringing up families. The businesses some of them run also boost the local economy.
The society is backed by local MP Pete Wishart and local MSP John Swinney who are among those who encourage the fostering of relations between the various communities.
They were among the guests at the Pakistan Independence Day celebrations held in Perth’s Station Hotel.
Also present was Perth and Kinross Deputy Provost Willie Wilson.
The council is very supportive of the society’s work.
The society advises and instructs on a number of issues including healthcare and benefits. There is also a big social aspect where people gather together.
And the society’s programmes are not just for those who have come from other shores. Local people are made very welcome and do attend many events.
The social side takes on various forms from cultural events hosted by the communities, from going out walking together and having weekends away.
The society also holds out the hand of welcome to different nationalities who have just arrived in the area, informing and advising them of things particular to their needs and encouraging them to become integrated as quickly as possible into Scottish life.
A society spokeswoman said: “The group is run by volunteers who speak different languages so we have a diverse group represented at the top end of the society helping drive through programmes which will be of benefit.
“To deliver cultural awareness to a vast group of people is a unique thing and we are encouraging people from different minority groups to support each other. Therefore, someone from south-east Asia may be a useful support to an eastern European native.” The spokeswoman added: “One of our latest events was the Pakistan Independence Day celebration. We had at least 12 separate nationalities taking part. “I recall seeing people from Indonesia, Russia, Syria, Romania, Poland, India, the Philippines and Slovakia there and it is likely other nations represented. The turnout was great and a fine advert for the society.”