East Kilbride MSP hails vital funding for Scotland's refugees and asylum seekers

East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson has welcomed funding from the Scottish Government which will help refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland to settle in East Kilbride.

The £3.6 million funding, which replaces the now ended EU funding for the services, will be used by the Scottish Refugee Council’s Refugee Support Service to help people access health, housing, welfare and employment support.

The cash injection will also help provide information and resources and to encourage social connections. The EU funding which previously funded the service ended in 2023.

Ms Stevenson said: “I welcome this vital funding for the Scottish Refugee Council, which underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to championing the rights of and supporting some of the world’s most vulnerable groups who are fleeing war and persecution.

“It is essential that we take every step possible to make sure refugees and asylum seekers looking to settle in Scotland have access to all the help they need to rebuild their lives in East Kilbride and across South Lanarkshire and that they are treated with compassion and dignity throughout.

“Our communities are made all the richer for the asylum seekers and refugees who choose to make Scotland their home, and thanks to this continued investment from the Scottish Government, Scotland will continue to leave its door open to those who need it most.”

Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Refugee Council, Sabir Zazai said: “We welcome this timely investment in a Scotland-wide Refugee Support Service to ensure people seeking protection across Scotland feel welcomed and supported and can start rebuilding their lives in their new communities.

“This integrated service will be available and accessible to everyone who needs it, wherever in the country they are based. With a focus on collaboration and partnership, we will work with local authorities, grassroots organisations and communities to build a better future for refugees and people seeking asylum. This approach builds on our extensive expertise of delivering vital integration services over the years.

"Scotland is known around the world for being a warm and welcoming country. We look forward to building on this proud reputation in the coming years as we aim to make Scotland the best place for refugees to thrive, challenge injustice, achieve their ambitions and empower their communities, no matter where they have come from or how they arrived.”

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