About

Scottish Refugee Council vision is for a Scotland in which all people seeking refugee protection are welcome. A place where women, children and men are protected, find safety and support, have their human rights and dignity respected and are able to achieve their full potential.

They provide practical support, advice and a listening ear to help people rebuild their lives in a sustainable and meaningful way. They work with communities and community groups. And they speak out against an unjust asylum system and campaign for policy changes that make a positive difference to people’s lives.

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Services

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Support for new refugees

The service provides advice and advocacy to help people through this crucial time, including practical support to resolve immediate housing and money issues.

But that’s not all what they do. Their advisers work one-to-one with individuals and families to identify people’s unique needs and hopes and to help people develop a personal plan for the future.

This service helps with:

• Accessing benefit payments and other entitlements

• Housing issues

• Getting a National Insurance Number

•  Finding out about education, training, learning English and skills to help you find work

• Planning for the future, working towards your goals and aspirations

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Accessing Homelessness Support

The homelessness process is complicated. There are many different laws that affect people’s rights and entitlements. The process and the words used can be overwhelming and difficult to understand. People’s journeys can be very different and their personal circumstances will have an impact on what housing solutions are available to them.

At Scottish Refugee Council, they are here to help you to understand the housing process and to make informed decisions.

On this page you will find the most up-to-date information about the housing process in Scotland.

Their team can:

• Explain the homeless process in English or in your own language

• Advise on your rights and entitlements

• Present different housing options

• Help you to find realistic and suitable solutions

• Signpost housing specialists for additional help and support

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Support for families

You will get free, one-to-one support from a case manager, who will work with you and your legal representatives to help you understand the asylum process.

Your case manager will:

• Support you to understand your rights

• Explain the importance of getting legal advice

• Reinforce your understanding of your asylum case

• Give you advice on asylum support and accommodation

• Advocate on your behalf with the Home Office and other professionals

• Help you access welfare and health services

• Help you and your children to access education

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Destitute Asylum Seeker Service

Their advisers help people understand their rights and entitlements and help them cope through very difficult circumstances. This includes supporting people with complex applications for emergency support and submitting fresh asylum applications with the help of solicitors or our partners at the law clinic.

They refer people to specialist services for health, welfare and psychological support as well as to foodbanks, hot food places and community support groups. They also hold social groups and activities which gives our clients an opportunity to interact and socialise.

As well as supporting individuals in need we also work with statutory and voluntary partners to agree on the best approaches to combatting and alleviating destitution.

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This service provide

• A holistic assessment of  needs including legal, health, education, social connections and volunteering

• Information and advice about rights and entitlements

• Information on the support options available

• Support with collecting destitution evidence for Section 4 applications

• Support with applying for Section 4 support and responding to Home Office correspondencez

• Access to Refugee Survival Trust destitution and travel grants

Support for Separated Children and Young People

Scottish Refugee Council lifeline service provides advice, guidance and one-to-one support to help  young people recover from their experiences and come to terms with their new circumstances.

Scottish Refugee Council guardians offer a professional, friendly pillar of support to help each of the young people through the journey ahead of them. This includes understanding their rights within a foreign country, supporting them through the complex asylum, trafficking and welfare systems, supporting them to return to school or college, building confidence and social networks and providing a much needed reliable listening ear. Overall Scottish Refugee Council guardians help young people feel supported and empowered and able to make informed decisions about their future.

The service creates opportunities for young people to meet their peers and to make friends and supports them to socialise, play and have fun.

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Dundee Resettlement Support

Scottish Refugee Council Integration support workers provide one-to-one advice and support on all aspects of settling into a new environment with the aim of giving people the best possible start to life in Dundee.

This includes practical support to help people find their way around the city, making sure people feel safe and orientated; ensuring accommodation and the local environment is suitable for families; helping people with the paperwork involved in setting up a new home and helping people plan their first few weeks in Scotland.

After this initial phase, we continue to work with people to develop a plan for achieving their longer-term hopes and ambitions.

The service draws on the knowledge and experience of the Syrian families who have already settled in Dundee. Using a peer support model, newly arrived families are able to benefit from the experience and insight people have gained over the last number of years in Dundee.

Scottish Refugee Council also offer support to resettled families on their settlement application and citizenship processes

Scottish Refugee Council deliver this service in partnership with Dundee City Council and local services.

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Employment

Scottish Refugee Council believe everyone deserves the opportunity to work to their full potential and to earn a living. Their employability programme runs short training courses to help people overcome the difficulties that they may face in finding employment in Scotland.

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Their short training courses provide people with:

• An understanding of the UK job market

• Where to look for work

• Identifying transferable skills

• Creating CVs

• Advice on completing application forms and the application process

• Interview skills and mock interviews

If you would like to start preparing for work, please contact them on 0808 196 7274.

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