New Scots Refugee Integration Delivery Project: guidance

Background

The New Scots refugee integration strategy 2018-2022 is built on partnership and collaboration, led by the Scottish Government, COSLA and the Scottish Refugee Council and sets out a vision for a welcoming Scotland where refugees and people seeking asylum are able to rebuild their lives from the day they arrive. To achieve this vision, the strategy works to ensure that Scotland:

• is a place of safety for everyone, where people are able to live free from persecution as valued members of communities
• enables everyone to pursue their ambitions through education, employment, culture and leisure activities
• has strong, inclusive and resilient communities, where everyone is able to access the support and services they need and is able to exercise their rights
• is a country that values diversity, where people are able to use and share their culture, skills and experiences, as they build strong relationships and connections

The purpose of the New Scots strategy is to coordinate the efforts of organisations and community groups across Scotland involved in supporting refugees and people seeking asylum. It provides a clear framework for all those working towards refugee integration and assists the work of all partners to make the best use of resources and expertise that are available across Scotland, by promoting partnership approaches, joined-up working and early intervention. The beneficiaries of the strategy are Scotland’s refugees, the communities they live in, and wider Scottish society.

To date, projects and tools developed in line with the strategy have enabled refugees in Scotland to:

• live in safe, welcoming and cohesive communities where they are able to build diverse relationships and connections
• understand their rights, responsibilities and entitlements and exercise these to pursue full and independent lives
• access well-coordinated services, which recognise and meet their rights and needs
• ensure their rights, needs and aspirations inform the policy, strategic planning and legislation which impacts upon them