New strategy aimed at supporting refugees in Scotland published
THE first part of a new strategy aimed at supporting refugees in Scotland has been launched. The Scottish Government, Cosla and the Scottish Refugee Council have published the first part of the latest New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy.
The framework sets out how Scotland will support “all people who need protection to rebuild their lives here” and “lays out how we can provide the best support to help people make progress with the things that matter to them”.
From learning English to accessing accommodation, the strategy aims to help every area of a person’s life as they look to settle in Scotland.
According to the Scottish Government’s website, a “new Scot” is “used to refer to people living in Scotland who have been forcibly displaced or are making a claim that they have a well-founded fear of persecution”.
The strategy has several overarching outcomes it is working to achieve, which include:
●New Scots live in safe, welcoming, inclusive communities, where everyone’s dignity is respected and everyone is able to build diverse relationships and healthy intercultural bonds
●New Scots are able to access well-coordinated services, which recognise and meet their rights and needs
●New Scots understand their rights, responsibilities and entitlements in Scotland and are able to exercise these to pursue full and independent lives
●New Scots can pursue their ambitions through education, employment, culture and leisure activities in diverse communities
●Communities in Scotland understand integration interculturally and respect the diversity and strengths that New Scots bring
●Po●icy, strategic planning, and legislation, that have an impact on New Scots, are shaped through their participation and informed by their rights, needs and aspirations
●The principles of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy guide all future responses to crises that bring forced migrants to Scotland and seek to ensure all such migrants will be treated equitably
The foreword to the plan says: “We are delighted to launch a new, updated strategy, reflecting the changing shape of communities across Scotland and reaffirming our commitment to support and welcome New Scots. The expertise of people with experience of settling in Scotland is at the heart of this strategy.
“People with lived experience and practitioners contributed their insights during its development.
“It is also informed by learning from recent academic research and careful evaluation of the success of the strategy’s progress to date.”
It adds: “As we launch the new strategy, Scotland reaffirms its commitment to stand in solidarity with people who need refugee protection and a safe place to call home.
“This strategy is designed to support all New Scots, whether they arrived via resettlement or relocation programmes, or through the UK’s asylum process.”