Glasgow remains one of the key areas for the dispersal of asylum seekers in the UK. See below for recent grant statistics, for further detail please visit our knowledge section.
Destitution Grants
Over the past year RST has awarded 644 grants to prevent the destitution of 681 refugees and asylum claimants living in Scotland. All of these people had no other means of supporting themselves and many of them had additional vulnerabilities. Beneficiaries included:
- 253 people who were homeless
- 11 pregnant women
- 9 new mothers
- 9 unaccompanied minors
Overall there has been a reduction in the number of grants. This reflects the reduction in numbers of new asylum seekers being dispersed to Scotland and a reduction in legacy cases still to be resolved as the year progressed.
| 2008 - 2009 | 2009 - 2010 | 2010 - 2011 | |
| No. of grants | 955 | 679 | 644 |
| No. of people supported | 1161 | 765 | 681 |
| Adults | 1011 | 679 | 644 |
| Children | 150 | 86 | 37 |
| Total value of grants | £51,264 | £36, 874 | £39, 038 |
The causes of destitution have remained approximately the same as for 2009-10. The most common reason for destitution grants in 2010-11 was for travel.
Find out more detail about the grants awarded recently by downloading Destitution Grants Data 2010 -2011.
Access to Education and Employment Grants
In 2010/11 RST awarded 58 grants with a value of £8,018 to support 36 refugees and 22 people seeking asylum to access employment, training and volunteering opportunities. Approximately two thirds of the applications came through Skills Development Scotland and one third through Scottish Refugee Council.
| 2008 - 2009 | 2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | |
| No. of grants | 57 | 53 | 58 |
| Total value of grants | £7,743 | £7,496 | £8,018 |
The grants paid for costs including travel to college, course books and equipment, examination costs and home computers. Grants for travel costs have become increasingly important as many applicants have no cash available and there is often no other source for this type of grant.
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The number of grants awarded is similar to the number awarded in the last two years but this level of grant-giving reflects current constraints on RST funding. We had no dedicated funding for this grants programme in 2010-11 and grants were funded from our unrestricted funds received through ad hoc and regular donations. RST has previously benefitted from Scottish Government and Oxfam funding for this grants programme.
