The UK’s Responsibility to Refugees – a letter from our CEO

The situation in Afghanistan is heart breaking to witness. We also know that many people here in Scotland are living with fear and uncertainty for their loved ones who are still in Afghanistan.  Scotland is a generous and welcoming place, and we have been heartened to see and receive many generous offers of help from Scottish people.   Whilst we welcome the UK Government’s announcement to re-settle 5,000 Afghans…

Continue reading

10 Shows Not to Miss at the Edinburgh Fringe (2021)

After a long period of darkness for live events, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival has returned to Scotland, with a programme packed with a mixture of in-person and online events. We’ve shortlisted the top ten shows to see for those of us interested in themes of migration, refuge, global community and…

Continue reading

Help us provide emergency grants to asylum seekers in Glasgow facing homelessness on the streets this winter

With the coldest winter in 30 years predicted in the UK this Christmas, we are deeply concerned for vulnerable women and men faced with impending lock-change evictions and homelessness on the streets of Glasgow this winter. Cath McGee, manager of our Destitute Asylum Seeker Service explains more in this short film.

Continue reading

Refugee Survival Trust fears rise in asylum seeker destitution

The Refugee Survival Trust (RST) fears that the recent Court of Session ruling allowing the eviction of refused asylum seekers from Home Office accommodation could result in hundreds of people being made destitute and forced into street homelessness in Glasgow. The case against Home Office Scottish accommodation provider Serco to…

Continue reading

“We can’t just blame Serco” says RST

Small Scottish charity Refugee Survival Trust has welcomed the news that Serco has temporarily paused their plans to change the locks of 330 asylum seekers who are overstaying their tenancy agreements, but says that the problem is bigger than Serco. A number of protests were organised in Glasgow after Serco…

Continue reading

Why does RST give so many grants to new refugees?

Because unfortunately, it is needed. Many people who have been granted refugee status face destitution immediately due to a fault in the system. This is when refugees understandably believe that the chances of being made destitute by the asylum system are behind them. Sadly this is too often not the…

Continue reading