RST Destitution Grants April – September 2017

Overview The first half of 2017-18 has once again seen an increase in the number of people applying for Destitution Grants from the Refugee Survival Trust, in comparison to previous years. Q1 & Q2 2015-16 – 370 grants distributed to a value of £25,821 Q1 & Q2 2016-17 – 410 grants…

Continue reading

21 years of RST – Just Festival performance

August has been a month filled with creative arts workshops for RST, leading up to a large performance as part of the Just Festival’s Just Together showcase event in the spectacular surroundings of St John’s Church on Princes Street in Edinburgh. This performance celebrated RST’s 21 years of supporting destitute…

Continue reading

RST arts workshops & Edinburgh Fringe performance

Here’s a very rare chance to be involved in creating a work of art and putting on a performance during the world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe. RST is 21 years old and we celebrating this milestone by devising and presenting a participatory performance called ‘Surviving in Scotland – 21 years of RST’ as part…

Continue reading

RST International Folk Concert, 21st June

Join us as part of Refugee Festival Scotland for an international folk concert featuring a unique blend of old and new, with: Kameran Hamo Kameran Hamo has been living in Edinburgh for a year, and has kindly played at many concerts for RST and other refugee charities. We are delighted to…

Continue reading

New refugees and destitution

You are an asylum seeker in Glasgow. You have been in the asylum process for several years, working to persuade the Home Office that your claim for asylum is genuine and that you cannot return to your home country. Finally a decision is made – you have been granted refugee…

Continue reading

Preventing homelessness through the Destitute Asylum Seeker Service

Guest post by Katharine Weatherhead Next month, it will have been four years since the publication of a report entitled Preventing Destitute Homelessness (June 2013). The report, commissioned by the Refugee Survival Trust and compiled by Community InfoSource, investigated the challenges posed by homelessness for asylum seekers in Scotland. What…

Continue reading

Nationalities of RST grant recipients

From April to December 2016, RST provided 619 destitution grants to refugees and asylum seekers. The grants came to a total of £53,919.45, with an average of £87.11. The top three nationalities of grant recipients were: Eritrean (14.7%), Syrian (11.9%), and Iranian (11.1%). Why do people flee from these countries?…

Continue reading

ELREC Cycles for Refugees

We’re absolutely delighted that the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) has chosen the Refugee Survival Trust as the charity partner for their upcoming cycle event on 26 March in Edinburgh! The 6 mile cycle ride, which will start at Bangholm Outdoor Centre and follow the Water of Leith and other cycle…

Continue reading