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…

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RST Response to the UK Government’s New Plan for Immigration

Foreword Refugee Survival Trust (RST) has been supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society for 24 years. RST was created in response to the need to protect fundamental human rights aligned to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) 1950 and the 1951 Convention guaranteeing…

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Refugee Week and #RefugeeFestScot both coming soon!

Next month will be the 20-year anniversary of Refugee Week. The Refugee Week programme, which takes place from 18-24 June 2018, will see a range of events organised across the UK. The events will share a focus on promoting understanding about sanctuary and celebrating refugee contributions to the UK, following…

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In the news again…

Our record-breaking year in 2017 has been picked up by The Ferret, which today features an in-depth article about Scotland’s “invisible epidemic” of refugee destitution. The article, by Karin Goodwin, looks at the increase in demand on services such as RST’s destitution grants programme, as well as other support services provided by…

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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…

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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…

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RST supported over 200 children in 2015-16. This should not be happening.

We recently posted information and figures about the destitution grants we provided in 2015-16 (read more here). RST’s information and comments were subsequently included in The National article: ‘Groups line up to damn way asylum system lets kids down‘ on 12th May 2015. Read the article to find out more.  …

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Our Stop Destitution Campaign is up for an Award

We are delighted to announce that the Stop Destitution Campaign has been nominated under the category of Best Campaigner in the Herald Society 2013 Awards.  The joint campaign delivered by Refugee Survival Trust and our partner Scottish Refugee Council between October 2012 and April 2013.  The main success of the campaign was to raise…

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