In the past year, RST destitution grants have helped keep 1158 asylum seekers and refugees, including 393 children, from destitution. These grants have allowed some recipients to buy food, travel to immigration interviews, buy essentials for newborn babies and find accommodation.
In this time, RST Access to Employment grants have helped over 35 asylum seekers and refugees to improve their skills, confidence and employability so they are better able to support themselves and settle in their new communities, get their qualifications recognised in the UK and find employment and study.
Ongoing consultation with voluntary organisations including the Scottish Refugee Council, Positive Action in Housing and the Edinburgh Refugee Centre has shown that these organisations highly value RST's work. RST has been able to perform a unique role within the relationship; reducing pressure on caseworkers as they face cases of extreme destitution, promoting referrals between organisations to ensure service-users obtain the best possible information and support, and providing an independent voice among statutory organisations that can work towards change and improvement.
