Do refugees from Syria really need recycling lessons?
Even families supposedly benef iting from green scheme think it’s a waste of money
SYRIAN refugees seeking sanctuary in Scotland are to be given taxpayer-funded lessons in recycling.
In a move branded both unnecessary and disgraceful, refugees who have fled their war-torn country and been given new homes in Edinburgh will also be given advice on cutting carbon emissions.
At present, 153 Syrian refugees live in Scotland’s capital. Many cannot read or write in English and need help with their education. Instead, £88,000 of taxpayers’ money is being spent on telling them how switching off lights and putting rubbish in the right bin can help save the planet.
They will also be shown how to get hold of second-hand clothes and materials otherwise destined for landfill dumps – so-called upcycling.
The UK has committed to housing 20,000 refugees from the civil war in Syria and around 1,200 have been resettled in Scotland since 2015. In all, 29 of Scotland’s 32 councils have taken in families with Home Office funding.
Last night, the Syrian Arab Association of Scotland, which has been involved in the resettlement programme, said the £88,000 would be better spent teaching refugees how to read and write.
Founder Zaida al-Aref said: ‘The health, housing and benefits side of things is covered, but they cannot stay on benefits long-term – they need to build independent lives.
‘We met with Edinburgh city council and said the priority, particularly for the younger ones, should be to fix their education and help them into volunteer work to begin with. Then they can go to university or get a proper job and do well for themselves and Scottish society, instead of putting them on benefits all their life.
‘Many of these refugees are not educated. They cannot even read and write in Arabic, let alone English, so this is the biggest issue, rather than teaching them to save electricity and recycling.’
A report by the Scottish Refugee Council last year identified the priorities for those who have been given permisto sion to start new lives here. They need help to access welfare, housing and employment, treatment for long-term physical or mental conditions and lessons in English.
But the Scottish Government has instead given a grant of £88,245 from its Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) to The Welcoming Association charity in Edinburgh for a ‘Welcoming A Greener Future project to help the Syrian refugee community in Edinburgh reduce carbon emissions’. Refugees will be ‘developing skills and understanding in relation to home energy efficiency and the reuse and recycling of household items’.
Project activities include home energy efficiency advice, a reuse programme for clothes, furniture and electrical items plus developing a wider understanding of climate change.
In 2015 and 2016, the charity was handed CCF grants totalling £257,036 for similar initiatives for migrants from various backgrounds in Edinburgh. Activities included workshops showing how to make ‘carrier bags out of old T-shirts’, ‘juice carton wallets’ and ‘upcycled Christmas decorations’.
Eben Wilson, director of the Centre for Democratic Prosperity think-tank, said: ‘What on earth is the value of spending taxpayers’ money on teaching newly-arrived refugees about recycling?’
The Welcoming Association did not respond to requests for comment. A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Scotland is making huge progress cutting emissions and the CCF supports projects to inspire people to care about the problem of climate change.’
‘Making carrier bags out of old T-shirts’