New Scots refugee integration strategy 2018-2022: summary

Summary of the New Scots refugee integration strategy 2018-22.


Communities, Culture and Social Connections

" Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits."

Article 27 (1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Objectives and Actions

The following initial actions set out the work related to communities, culture and social connections, which will be progressed in the first instance.

Outcome: Refugees and asylum seekers live in safe, welcoming and cohesive communities and are able to build diverse relationships and connections.

Objective: what we want to achieve

Action: what we will do

Communities are aware of the needs of refugee and asylum seeker communities and actively seek to involve them in community life.

Map and assess existing local and national initiatives that prepare local communities where refugees and asylum seekers arrive, including those which promote solidarity; positive community and interfaith relationships; foster understanding of refugees and asylum seekers in schools; and tackle racism.

Develop new initiatives and share good practice and research across Scotland with statutory, voluntary and community organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers.

Social isolation experienced by refugees and asylum seekers is reduced, as they become active in their local communities.

Map and assess existing individual mentoring and orientation schemes that help refugees and asylum seekers to build social connections and develop cultural knowledge, and consider the viability of expanding to all refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland.

Promote accurate reporting of refugees and asylum seekers in the Scottish media through the Refugee Festival Scotland Media Awards, with the National Union of Journalists.

Outcome: Refugees and asylum seekers understand their rights, responsibilities and entitlements, and are able to exercise them to pursue full and independent lives.

Objective: what we want to achieve

Action: what we will do

Refugees and asylum seekers engage in cultural, heritage and sport activities and celebrate their own culture, talents and contributions.

Promote understanding of cultural rights to refugees and asylum seekers.

Provide opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers to programme, produce work for and participate in Refugee Festival Scotland, as well as other national and local festivals.

Identify and promote existing support to refugee professional artists and cultural leaders.

Outcome: Refugees and asylum seekers are able to access well-coordinated services, which recognise and meet their rights and needs.

Objective: what we want to achieve

Action: what we will do

Local community groups and refugee and asylum seeker-led organisations play an active role in supporting refugee integration.

Identify and share good practice in relation to partnership approaches across statutory, voluntary and community organisations, to the planning and delivery of all refugee programmes in Scotland, including asylum, resettlement and community sponsorship.

Deliver a national conference for community, faith-based and refugee-led organisations to share expertise, practice and support capacity building, with a view to developing a national network.

Clarify rights, reduce barriers and promote good practice and participation in cultural, leisure, heritage and sports opportunities.

Outcome: Policy, strategic planning and legislation, which have an impact on refugees and asylum seekers, are informed by their rights, needs and aspirations.

Objective: what we want to achieve

Action: what we will do

The development and implementation of national legislation and strategies related to communities, culture and social connections are informed by the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers.

Ensure the voices and experiences of refugees and asylum seekers are considered within Scotland's Cultural Strategy and other national strategies related to culture, sport and heritage.

Support the inclusion of refugee integration within the implementation of existing legislation and policy related to communities, such as the requirements under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

Contact

scotlandsrefugeestrategy@gov.scot

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