Volunteering at Scottish Refugee Council has opened my eyes to the shocking destitution that many refugee and asylum seekers experience in Scotland.
I recently met a destitute asylum seeker who could not remember the last time he had eaten but swore he would rather take his own life than return to his home country.
I found this really upsetting – I can’t believe this happens to people coming to this country for help. It’s not right.
Still Human Still Here campaign
Scottish Refugee Council has been campaigning to end the destitution of refused asylum seekers through our membership of the Still Human Still Here Campaign, a UK wide coalition of over 50 organisations working to realise that same goal. Increasingly, this has become a key issue for us.
Now we’ve teamed up with Red Cross and Refugee Survival Trust to commission the Scottish Poverty Information Unit to carry out research into the extent of the problem. And later in the year, we’re planning more targeted campaigning work, calling for changes in policy so that refused asylum seekers do not find themselves in this unacceptable situation.
Being involved in this project is really important to me – but truthfully I didn’t realise the severity of the problem of destitution until I started volunteering.
Looking at destitution in Glasgow
Last week organisations in Glasgow took part in the start of the research by completing a survey with each of the destitute clients they worked with. The turnout was great from a broad spectrum of organisations, including service providers, church groups, charities, GPs and even solicitors.
Updated and accurate destitution statistics
This 2012 destitution tally will allow researchers to get updated – and hopefully more accurate – statistics on the number of destitute people seeking asylum across Glasgow who rely on charities for support. It’s an important step that will allow us to take forward the issues identified with policy makers.
Support in a welcoming environment
Last week I visited Govan and Craigton Integration Network (GCIN) who took part in the survey. Organisations like GCIN offer crucial support and advice to people who have nowhere to turn, are hungry and homeless. And yet, they still manage to do it in a welcoming, relaxed environment.
They offer support and help to tackle the extreme isolation that many destitute asylum seekers face. Their insight is vital to our research because they hear and understand people seeking asylum experiences on a daily basis. And they work diligently to help people out of destitution – that’s why it’s incredibly encouraging they are involved in our research.
With so much enthusiasm for the project, I’m looking forward to seeing the end results of this important research – and to being a part of a movement to end destitution for asylum seekers.
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