New Scots refugee integration strategy: delivery plan 2024 to 2026
Sets out the actions that the Scottish Government, COSLA and Scottish Refugee Council will take forward with partners during the period 2024 to 2026 to support the integration of refugees, people seeking asylum and other forced migrants within Scotland’s communities.
Outcome 3: 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.
Achieving progress towards personal ambitions requires an understanding of rights, how these apply in different situations and how to navigate new and complex systems. The findings of the community consultation with New Scots are clear, more support is needed to access information and advice on personal circumstances and on understanding how to navigate systems. New Scots face an increasingly complex immigration landscape, go through systems which lead to increased levels of homelessness and destitution, want to become confident English speakers and need to learn about requirements for practising their own profession or finding a job.
The actions under this outcome aim to develop the building blocks for New Scots to live independent and active lives. The Refugee Support Service and the Guardianship Service provide expert advice and advocacy support and will ensure New Scots can exercise their rights and access services they are entitled to. This will complement the support provided by Local Authorities and other support offered by third sector organisations in different areas.
The actions related to employment take account of addressing under-employment and unemployment and looking at ways to support people who want to be self-employed. The Scottish Government encourages employers to adopt Fair Work practices which includes practice to create diverse and inclusive workplaces and ensure appropriate channels for effective voice, payment of at least the real Living Wage and no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts.
Long-term Outcome 3 (5+years): New Scots understand their rights, responsibilities and entitlements in Scotland andare able to exercise these to pursue full and independent lives. New Scots can pursue their ambitions through education, employment,culture and leisure activitiesin diverse communities. |
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Activities planned for short term outcome |
1: Lead 2: Other Partners 3: By when |
Short term outcomes (1-2 years) |
3.1 A National Helpline provides quick, free and confidential advice, information, short term casework and referrals to New Scots across Scotland and to practitioners supporting them. |
1. Scottish Refugee Council - Refugee Support Service 3. 2024-2025 |
New Scots will receive tailored advice to resolve problems; and will be enabled to make informed decisions. |
3.2 Provide casework and integration planning support including group sessions in a range of locations for refugees granted leave through the asylum process to address needs and reach goals on integration indicators. |
1. Scottish Refugee Council - Refugee Support Service 3. 2024-2025 |
New Scots living in Scotland will have greater agency, the knowledge and skills to take control of their own future and have support to advocate for their rights and options. |
3.3 Provide complex casework support for people who have no recourse to public funds who are experiencing destitution. |
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People with no recourse to public funds in Scotland have access to advice and advocacy support to end destitution. Learning and recommendations are fed back to the Scottish Government and COSLA for implementation and/or for escalation to UK Government. |
3.4 Work with Scottish professional bodies to understand and promote recognition pathways for industries and identified sectors. |
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New Scots have access to better information to use their prior learning and qualification in Scotland. |
3.5 Develop proposals for a Scottish Right to Work pilot for people seeking asylum, to be submitted for consideration to the UK Government. |
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People in the asylum process have an increased probability of accessing employment. |
3.6 Improve and enhance awareness of and access to employability support for New Scots. |
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New Scots have improved awareness of and access to employability support across Scotland. |
3.7 Continue to provide a specialist guardianship service to all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, victims of trafficking and children vulnerable to trafficking in Scotland, to:
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All unaccompanied asylum seeking children, victims of trafficking and children vulnerable to trafficking who arrive in Scotland receive specialist support to protect their best interests and uphold their rights. |
3.8 Establish channels of support for New Scots considering or actively pursuing entrepreneurship, through our enterprise agencies and entrepreneurial ecosystem. |
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New Scots in early stages of entrepreneurship are supported to develop their business ambitions. |
3.9 Support New Scots to be reunited with their families including going through the UK family reunion visa application process. |
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Families are reunified and supported to integrate. |
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