Although the number of people seeking asylum in the UK has reduced drastically over the past five years, the number of asylum seekers living in Glasgow remains high. Glasgow remains one of the key areas for the dispersal of asylum seekers in the UK.
Destitution Grants
Over the past 6 years, RST has seen a significant increase in the number of grants made to support destitute refugees and asylum seekers. However, 2009-2010 saw a reduction of funding avaliable to RST and a subsequent decrease in the number of grants awarded. In the past year, RST provided grants to alleviate the destitution of 791 asylum seekers. Grant monitoring records show the causes of destitution remain widespread and varied, many of which are caused by the frequent changes made in procedures relating to asylum and immigration.
| 2004 -2005 | 2005 -2006 | 2006 -2007 | 2007 -2008 | 2008 -2009 | 2009 -2010 | |
| Number supported | 833 | 612 | 1152 | 1528 | 1161 | 791 |
| Adults | 627 | 511 | 765 | 1061 | 1011 | 705 |
| Children | 206 | 101 | 387 | 467 | 150 | 86 |
Access to Employment Grants
Funding from The Scottish Executive ended in 2008 and no grants were given between January and June 2009. Since then education grants have been made thanks to funding from Oxfam.
| 2006- 2007 | 2007- 2008 | 2008-2009 | 2009-2010 | |
| Total awarded | £8,476 | £10,882 | £7743 | £7496 |
| No. of grants | 63 | 81 | 57 | 53 |
| Refugees | 25 | 35 | 46 | 38 |
| Asylum seekers | 38 | 46 | 11 | 15 |
