We believe that refugees and asylum seekers should be welcomed, supported, and integrated into our communities from day one. This commitment has been realised through three successive New Scots Refugee Integration Strategies.
In March 2024, COSLA, the Scottish Government, and Scottish Refugee Council published the third New Scots Refugee Integration Strategic Framework. The document itself can be found here. This was the result of three years of research and consultation, conducting under the New Scots Refugee Integration Delivery Plan (NSRIDP), which you can read about here. Some of the research and consultations from NSRIDP are summarised in these documents about the consultations and the NSRIDP projects.
Following on from this, in June 2024, we published the first annual Delivery Plan (2024-5) under the new Strategic Framework. This sets out the concrete deliverables and longer-term objectives through which we will achieve the overarching outcomes of the third New Scots Integration Strategy.
In 2014 COSLA, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Refugee Council developed New Scots: Integrating Refugees in Scotland’s Communities Strategy. This was implemented by partners between 2014 and 2017. It aimed to coordinate the efforts of all organisations involved in supporting refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland
In 2018 COSLA, Scottish Government and Scottish Refugee Council published a second New Scots Strategy building on the learning and success of the first. In preparation for the development of the strategy, a consultation was undertaken with refugees, asylum seekers and stakeholders. The full report can be found here
The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy 2018-2022 set out a vision for a welcoming Scotland where refugees and asylum seekers are able to rebuild their lives from the day they arrive.
The strategy commited to better access to essential services such as education, housing, health and employment. It recognises the skills, knowledge and resilience which refugees bring and aims to help people to settle, become part of the community, and pursue their ambitions.
The strategy focuses on seven key themes:
- needs of asylum seekers
- employability and welfare rights
- housing
- education
- language
- health and wellbeing
- communities, culture, and social connections
New Scots partners have established four overarching outcomes, which this strategy will work to achieve:
- Refugees and asylum seekers live in safe, welcoming and cohesive communities and are able to build diverse relationships and connections.
- Refugees and asylum seekers understand their rights, responsibilities and entitlements and are able to exercise them to pursue full and independent lives.
- Refugees and asylum seekers are able to access well-coordinated services, which recognise and meet their rights and needs.
- Policy, strategic planning and legislation, which have an impact on refugees and asylum seekers, are informed by their rights, needs and aspirations.
New Scots Strategy 2014-2017
In 2014 COSLA, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Refugee Council developed New Scots: Integrating Refugees in Scotland’s Communities Strategy. This was implemented by partners between 2014 and 2017. It aimed to coordinate the efforts of all organisations involved in supporting refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland. Key documents in relation to the strategy can be found below: